Quote from: ACY on January 13, 2015, 12:47:03 PM

Quote from: MP2626 on January 13, 2015, 12:14:49 PMThe light do not work, I assume I need to add resisters to fix this, does that sound right?

They may need to be replaced.

Why would they need to be replaced?

I found I had another open circuit, this one was on the gray wire from the decoder to the motor.  The loco was re-addressed to 713 and took the new address.  I checked CV 29 and the value shown was 38.  The light do not work, I assume I need to add resisters to fix this, does that sound right?

Quote from: Len on January 12, 2015, 07:30:47 PM
The '255' sounds like a value read back for some CV. It's not a DCS50 error message I'm aware of.

Just to touch base on a basic, if you check CV29 do you get a value of either 34 or 38? It should be one or the other for a 4-digit address.

Len

As just stated above I will do some testing tomorrow and I will check CV 29.

Quote from: Hunt on January 12, 2015, 08:35:00 PM
An error message of A255 brings two usual suspects to mind
   1)   You tried to reset all the decoder CVs to their factory default value (program CV 08 with 08 ) and reset was not complete before another command sent to decoder.
   2)   A decoder internal circuit problem

Since your are using Digitrax DCC system and decoder suggest you contact Digitrax.

1) Brand new decoder and never did anything to other than as mentioned in my initial post.

2) Possibly, I have another DH123D decoder and I will exchange and see if that fixes the problem, tomorrow.

I already have sent an email.  Thanks for your suggestions!

Mark 

I would have purchased the Bachmann S-4 Sound Value model had it been offered in Northern Pacific livery.  Since it was not, I have provided it with a Digitrax DH123D decoder.  I have installed a dozen or so of Digitrax Decoders and never had a problem.  I noticed that Bachmann wires their motors with the red leads from the track on the fireman's side, whereas others would have the red leads on the engineer's side, however, this makes no difference.

After completing the installation I placed the loco on my programing track and got a d nd error message on my Digitrax Zephyr DCS50, meaning there was an open circuit on the programing track.  I got out my Multimeter and checked continuity between the wheels and decoder and found that one of my solder joints had broken apart.  I fixed this and rechecked the continuity and it was good.  Then I placed the loco back on the programing track and attempted to read back the address and got 03, which was what I had hoped I would see.  I attempted to run the loco on address 03 and nothing happened!  I placed the loco back on the programing track and attempted to write the mew address (713) and now get a d nA error meaning there is no acknowledgement from the decoder. I also at one time got an A255 message and I am unfamiliar with this one.

I have always been successful before, installing decoders.  However this one has put me at a loss.

Anyone have any suggestions?

Thanks in advance!   

I've been modeling for close to 60 years.  Not that has made me an expert, obviously.  I had heard somewhere that the white was for wood.  I guess I was mistaken and that it is not, is fine with me.  I only have used the green.  I guess for the O.P.'s needs, either would work.  White/green the stuff is perfect for his needs!

The white is for wood, what you want is the green.

It was probably around 1956-1957 and I was 6-7 years old.  My brother (who was 6 years older) and I received an American Flyer train set for Christmas.  This set had a Pennsilvania K-4 Pacific and 5-6 cars and a typical N (something) type Pennsy caboose.  As I had little money to spend on the layout at that point in my life and my brother did, from mowing grass and such, he bought more track, a couple of turnouts (called "switches" back then) and some Plasticville buildings.  He mounted the track to a 4X8 sheet of plywood and although he let me run the train, his being 6 years older and having more money invested in the layout, it was much more his, than mine!

One of the neighbor kids, who was even older than my brother, had an HO layout in his basement.   I thought HO to be much more scale like than my "high rail" American Flyer set and so started asking Santa for an HO trainset, which I finally got in 1959.  This was a Tyco set with a 0-4-0 side tank Booster loco, an MKT Box car, a Pennsy Gondola and a Bobber caboose and of course it was in Pennsy livery.  Along with this set I received a Varney Little Joe Docksider 0-4-0 and a Varney powerpack that had been the neighbor kid's who had the HO layout in his basement.  Thus began my deep and long lasting love for HO.  Incidentally I still have the Varney Little Joe, it runs and pulls more cars (for it size) than any other loco I have!

Talked to Laura in Bachmann's Customer Service Department.  She said to go ahead and return my Two Truck Climax.  Sounds like they will exchange it for the new Three Truck Climax.  It appears that Bachmann is very interested in taking care of it's customers, which is very good news!  This one will run for several hours before I do any work on it.

So, you guys are saying the Trree Truck Climax has a robustly built drive system that will not fail?  I don't want to put a bunch of work into a model only to have to send the thing back to the manufacturer because it stopped working!

I'm skeptical about spending another $25 bucks on the dang thing.  Luckly, in this instance, all I did to this loco is put a decoder in it.  Normally, I would have personalized it, added an engine crew, been weathered and decaled for my RR. 

Since at this time, Bachmann is only offering the three truck, is there anyway of they're being able to inform me of what they would do if I return it?

I have an HO Bachmann Spectrum 2 truck Climax.  Although I bought this loco 5-8 years ago, it has been run very little.  I have a medium sized layout and I doubt this loco has made 2 laps around the layout.  So, for all practical purposes, it is brand new.  I did, however, install a Digitrax DZ123 decoder in it.  I'm having a problem with this loco.  Both U-Joints at the trucks are popping off the trucks.  There is a very small detent that is supposed to lock the U-joint onto the truck and I'm finding this to pop off of both trucks. 

In talking with other owners of this locomotive, it is my understanding that this loco has been plagued with problems from it's going onto the market!

What are my options?  I would not consider selling this loco on Ebay or in any other way, with the problem it has!  Can it be repaired?  Can it be replaced?  I should think Bachmann would not want to have this locomotive out in the public, given its history and problems!