Ok thanks Hunt. Since I'm on the road for the next 18 days not much I can do until I return. I only have a 6 ft long switching layout so I can't do a long run,I'm limited that way. When I get back home I'll run. The lloco with cv217 at 0 and see how it behaves with other locos on the layout. I'll also see if I can get another decoder from Bachmann.

I'm reluctant to send it back because doing so from Canada requires various customs documentation, postage charges  plus this loco cost me quite a bit with the currency exchange and customs duty....unless Bachmann is willing to waive any kind of return/restocking charges a replacement loco gets very expensive, especially if I get hit by Canada customs again.

These are all reasons I normally prefer to buy locally from my local hobby-shop.

Ok Hunt...I did the factory reset as per the instructions...the buzzing returned when I muted the sound.

Quote from: Hunt on May 15, 2016, 04:32:56 PM
No winner!  You will have poor locomotive performance with CV 217 set to 0.

In what way? A quick test...it seemed to be running fine?

Quote from: brokenrail on May 15, 2016, 01:09:32 PM
I am pretty sure that grinding gear noise is from the motor.If you want to try one more thing.Go to cv 217 it is not listed and set it to zero and see if your buzz goes away.If it does there is definitely  problem with the decoder when standing still.Almost forgot.Turn cv 131 to zero,but leave the sound Un-muted and see if you still have the buzz with the speaker hooked back up of course for this test.Been around the block with these switchers a few times.I finally got the bugs out of them and they are great for over a year and a half now .I completely understand your frustration.
Johnny

BINGO!!!!! And we have a winner!!!!!

Ok...first I switched CV217 to 0 and exited the programming mode....buzzing gone!
Then went and switched CV 131 to 0 .....buzzing and sound files gone even when hitting F8 to turn sound on.
Then switched CV 131 back to its original setting...sounf files back as per normal but buzzing is still gone.

So I'm leaving CV 217 set to zero.

Thank you Johnny!!!!

Btw...what exactly is CV 217

Ok...found it...apparently it is a master to turn BEMF on or off.   0=off. 2= on.  Apparently 2 is the default.

Quote from: Hunt on May 15, 2016, 02:47:57 PM
genetk44,
A damaged speaker has not been eliminated as being the cause of the buzzing.

Agreed...so I'm considering a sugar-cube speaker replacement as somebody suggested on another forum yesterday.

Replace the loco? Seems extreme at this point. I'm on the road for 2 weeks...when I get back I'll contact Bachmann and ask for a replacement decoder as per your suggestion. At least this loco is very easy to open and the decoder replacement is a simple job. After that we shall see.
Thanks for your help guys...it was appreciatted.


I normally only buy my locos from local shops and have never had a problem....I think this is my 4th loco online in 4 years and I'm batting 50%...this loco and one that was a pair that I pre-ordered from Atlas that took 13 months to get here and one was duff straight out of the box, the other was perfect.....took 6 weeks to get it back from warranty repair.
The 4 th loco was a Bachmann RS3 via Micro-Mark that was perfect.

So I reconnected the speaker wire and the buzzing is still there with the sounds muted and at speed-step 0
As I increase power the buzzing diminishes and by speed-step 3 it is almost gone...the grinding gear noise takes over....but it can definately be heard to decrease as power is applied and before the grinding gears get too loud.

You are correct...when F8 is pressed and the sound-files are muted completely there is a buzzing sound from the loco even when it is at a complete standstill...as best as I can hear it is coming from the speaker. When I disconnected just one speaker wire from the decoder the buzzing was gone and of course so were the loco sounds both at the stand-still and when the loco was moving.

Ok...clarification.
There are two types of " noise" happening with this loco.
One is a motor/geartrain growl/grinding noise , that doesn't worry me too much...it is kind of common especially on older locos like the 70 tonner...I'll be able to sort that out in due course.

The one that bothers me more is the buzzing which seems to be electric/electronic related with the decoder or speaker or both combined and thats the one we are concerned with here. The buzzing is there with both the sound-files on and muted. Granted you really have to get your ear right up and listen really hard for it under the sound files but it is there. When the loco sounds are muted there is no mistaking it...with the throttle at speed step 1, loco not moving and the sound files muted you can hear the buzzing from 5 ft away.

So I just did as Hunt suggested and disconnected just one of the speaker wires from the decoder and the buzzing is gone with the loco standing still and moving. The lights still work and the loco moves in both directions.

Ok...its 1:20 in the morning so I'm not in shape to do that now...I'll disconnect one wire tomorrow and report back the result. Thanks hunt.

Hunt...yes it was...seemed to be coming directly from the speaker as best as I could tell.

Hunt...yes thats when you can hear the buzz is when the sounds are off/muted.

Thanks guys. I will give the loco some more time to break in. Brokenrail...can you advise on the brand of sugarcube speaker to buy?
The buzzing does appear to come from the speaker.

Cheers
Gene

I just received my B&O Sound Value S2 today and am a bit disappointed. So far I've had very good luck with my Bachmann locos including my 9 Sound Value ones,both steam and diesel. I'd say the worst problem I've had so far is over lubrication(grease) by the factory.

Anyways my Sound Value S2 arrived direct from Bachmann today and I have to say I am disappointed. The sound files are pretty anemic compared to my steamers and RS3s. And of course the trucks are overloaded with grease as usual. But the biggest disappointments are the noisy gear/motor noise and the buzzing. The loco runs pretty well and quiet in reverse but in forward the motor/gear noise actually overpowers the sound files. That and the background buzzing. Even when the sound is muted and the loco is at a standstill the motor buzz is very loud and noticeable.  So far I have cleaned the excess grease out of the trucks and gears and I am breaking the loco in at half-speed on my rolling road with the sound off...hopefully that will help but I doubt it.

Sending it back to the factory is not an option...between shipping costs and the hit from Canada Customs shipping it back to the US isn't happening....so I have to sort it...hopefully with help from you guys here