Our club has a 2-8-0 that would run intermittently.  On the bench everything worked fine.  Under load it would stop.
Upon close examination while installing new cog belt I found the pinion cog on the motor shaft was split.  There was just enough friction to move the mechanism without load, but once it started to slip it was dead in the water.  I tried some Dr. Mikes ACC after cleaning the shaft and gear as previously recommended, but that only worked for a short time.  Ultimately I replaced the motor with new gear as that is the only way to get the part.  As stated, the motor and gear is $15.00.  If you only need a new belt after close examination, call the service dept. and ask...they are available.

Michael
Boalsburg, PA

Bob, Jim,
I haven't given up on this yet...minor glitch...I gave my old LocoBufferII to the PSU Club, because it would stay in one place, and the external power supply would not be an issue, and they have an old PC at the layout to use.
Meanwhile I bought myself a new LocoBuffer USB and a new MacPro laptop...trouble is I haven't had the time to set it up for the last few months, and now when this came up, I find I must have Decoder Pro back  up and running  (I also have about 6 installs for myself that need to be programed and tweaked.  No happiness yet...I am missing a crucial USB/Serial driver to make the laptop talk with the LocoBufferUSB.  Have been messing around with it for a few days now and will have to get on the JMRI group and look for the answer or ask for help.  Once I have that solved, I'll take it over to my friends layout and read the darned engines and report what I find.
Cheers,
Michael
Boalsburg,  PA

Rangerover,
FYI...I am able to use universal consisting with these Bachmann decoders on my Digitrax and  NCE system without any problem.  It is the Advanced (CV19) I am wrestling with.  Just wanted that for convenience.
Hope this helps,
Michael
Boalsburg, PA

Bob,
Thanks for the research and info!
Actually, I think Bachmann has done a great job in supplying a basic decoder.  They seem to operate at 128 ss very smoothly with good speed control and directional lights.  If I find out anything more I will post it.
The truth is I was pleased with their operation, so I installed them into an ABA set of Proto diesels for a friend who just wanted some basic DCC.  Am very pleased with their operation, just would like to advance consist them as he is using the EZ-DCC control.  I suppose I could just assign them all the same address.  Perhaps later this week I can take my DCS50 and laptop and see what I can find/program with DecoderPro.
My sharks are getting LokSound units in the two A's and LokPilots in the B's.  I thought having all four decoders of the same manufacturer would be easier to get them all to play nice together!
Cheers and Thanks and Prayers to ALL who have and are serving our Country!
Michael
Boalsburg, PA

Hey, Mr BachMan....
Any input as to where I can find/get documentation for these RF-16 decoders, or at least can you tell me which CV's are supported
Thanks in advance,
Michael
Boalsburg, PA

Bob,
Used that trick before, but I was able to write to cv17,18 and 29 in OPS mode without the resistor, so I assumed if CV19 is supported it would also program without.
I suspect it is a very basic decoder with only the mandatory NMRA CV's active.
Hopefully someone will be able to confirm that, or enlighten me and help figure out what I'm doing wrong.
Thanks,
Michael
Boalsburg, PA

Bob,
Thanks.  I looked through that PDF, but the decoder in the Sharks are hard wired PCB's, not the 1amp black-wrapped NMRA 8-pin plug-in type.
I was able to write to CV 19 OK, but there is no response to the advanced consist # programmed.  I was able to program a four digit address successfully without any problems in OPS mode.  Am using Digitrax Zephyr with a DT400 for programming.
I was hoping the BachMan would chime in to confirm the PCB has the same specs or if there is some other documentation with different specs and supported CV's.
Cheers,
Michael
Boalsburg, PA

Good Evening,
I have 4 PRR RF-16 sharks ( a-b-b-a)  DCC equipped. A units are  Bachmann #61802.
I can not find any documentation on the decoders other than they are NMRA/NEM compliant.
Specifically, is CV 19 supported?  I would like to advance consist them.
Is there a pdf that can be downloaded that I can not locate listing the CV's  supported?
Thanks in advance.
Michael
Boalsburg, PA

Greetings,
You know the drill...Xmas and your friends ask you to fix the train that they drag out once a year for the kids to play with and then throw in a box when they clean up after the holidays.
Well, I can't say no, and really want the train experience to be fun and positive for the kids, so I called customer service on Thursday for a part for an inexpensive 4-4-0 that I didn't have in my parts box...I couldn't even find a pdf diagram, so I just explained to the friendly young lady what I needed.
Saturday it was in my mailbox...today the youngsters train is fixed!
Wow, now THAT IS EXCELENT SERVICE!!!
Thank you Bachmann for being so responsive at a very busy time of year.
Cheers,
Michael
Boalsburg, PA

That's what I suspected...was looking for confirmation of symptoms.
I'll have a chance to test and program the loco this weekend on my Digitrax DCC system and I also have a separate 4 amp DC (analog) to test with it.  I built the pack many years ago...variac, full wave bridge and filtered or conditioned 16VDC output(large capacitor).  We'll see if that doesn't boil the proverbial magic smoke :-)
Michael State College,
State College, PA

Greetings,
I was helping a friend the other night with a new spectrum k4 with sound.  All he had available to test it was DC (analog).  Now, I was under the impression that the decoder was the OEM Tsunami such as is used in the On30 locos.  Is this correct?  When trying to run it, as I advanced the throttle (I was aware it would need a fairly high minimum voltage to begin to respond) All I got was a "whoop, whoop, whoop (not the whistle, or possible a short whistle) or "chirp, chirp chirp.."  Well, may be  "whoop, chirp, whoop, chirp..." but you get the idea.  Almost as if it would start up the sound sequence and then short out, and start again.  With careful checking and cleaning I have ruled out dirty track...in fact when I got brave and advanced the throttle to about 3/4 ( old MRC twin pack, NO pulse power) it finally ran OK, but without much speed control range or power.
I have not yet had the opportunity to bring the loco home and test on my DCC and tweak the programming, but wondered if anyone has experienced similar operation?
Bad power pack?  Bad decoder?  Or is this the best one can expect on DC (analog)?
Thanks,
Michael
State College, PA