Cris

The dpdt switch is to prevent connecting the PTB100 output to track power.

The switch is wired straight through, not crossed as a reversing switch.

You should use a center off switch, to be safe.

Tim L. Anders
Souderton, PA

John

It is a matter of personal preference.

I have recently installed Tsunami's in a pair of 4-6-0's for a client, one with and one without.
The decoder parameters were identical the only difference was the baffle.

The one with the baffle has a sharper chuff than the one without , the other sounds seem the same.

BTW the enclosures are not a slip fit on the speaker there is no allowance made for the speaker
terminals and wires.  You must modify the enclosure to fit.

Tim Anders
Souderton, PA

John

The full size Tsunami will fit nicely in the 2-8-0 tender.

For the speaker use a hi-bass speaker from one of the following,

Litchfield Station SP-27RHB-08 , TTX (Tony's ) HB106R , Soundtraxx  810130.

1.06" dia.  .58" deep.

The speaker grill/mount provided by Bachmann will have to be opened a bit to accomidate
the speaker. 

I have used this speaker in all my sound equipped loco's even the 4-4-0.

Tim Anders
Souderton, PA

Bob

Actually it was Labelle #108 oil that I used but graphite would work.
As shipped the pilot truck bearings are dry.  Part of the preparations before running any loco
regardless of manufacture is to check pilot & trailing trucks for lube and binds.

Another problem with the 4-6-0 is a lack of vertical movement of the pilot truck.
This shows up at the crest of your grades, a little judicious filing of the pilot truck link will give
added vertical movement.  I replaced mine with one made of .025" brass strip.

Spring loading of the pilot truck is possible but I find it unnecessary with the above changes.

Tim Anders
Souderton,PA

McCullough

On page four of the PSX-AR manual, at the top left side of the page
is a chart showing all the possible connections to J6.

For 1.27A connect pins one and two of J6.

If you have screw terminals put a short wire between 1 and 2.
If you just have solder pads solder a wire between 1 and 2.

The holes/terminals are numbered L to R .

At the top of page three is a photo of the board showing all the jumper locations.

You do have to add the jumper because the default trip current of the PSX-AR is 3.31A.
This is higher than the trip current of  the Power-Cab.

Tim Anders
Souderton, PA

John

If you ar using NCE Pro Cab or a Digitrax system you will not be able to program a Tsunami
without a programming booster.  Both of these systems were designed before sound decoders
were available.

The manuals for the Bachmann tsunami decoders are available here:
http://www.soundtraxx.com/manuals.php

The bottom two manuals are the Bachmann manuals.

Tim Anders
Souderton, PA

McCullough

The power-Cab has a trip current of about 2.5A.
You need to set jumper J6 on the PSX-AR to pins 1-2.
It will cause the PSX to trip @ 1.27A. This is below the trip threshold of the
Power-Cab.

Also is it possible that the end of the train has not cleared the first set of gaps?

Tim Anders
Souderton, PA

Locoron

Thanks Ron, I was thinking of a similar procedure but didn't
want to experiment on a client's loco.

I will consult my client to see if he wants to proceed.

Tim Anders
Souderton, PA

ksivils

To remove the headlight or backup light,  Pull straight up.
you may have to pry the housing from the bracket with a
thin screwdriver the wires are simply plugged into the top
of the smoke box.

To install one of the alternate lights, bend and trim the wires
to match the one you just removed. Then plug it in to the socket
on the smoke box.

The backup light requires the removal of the tender shell as the sockets
for the wires are not attached to the shell as on the loco.

The leds cannot be changed as the lens are glued into the housings.
You will have to live with the ugly yellow lights.

Tim Anders
Souderton, PA

Anubis

Many turntables were powered by compressed air from the loco being turned.

All that is required is an air line to connect to the brake line on the loco, and
a control stand to operate the air motor.

Tim Anders
Souderton, PA

Robert

The soldering station Bob is talking about is the Weller "WLC100" it is an excellent
piece of equipment, it can do very fine work and with the change of a tip can solder
rail or parts onto a brass model.  Price is about $50.00 .

Tim Anders
Souderton, PA

Jonathan

Connect the red one (lower tab in your photo) to the frame, and the upper blue
one to the wiper assembly.   

With plus on the right hand rail, the loco should go forward.
If it runs in reverse, simply reverse the motor connections.

If you are planning on DCC the orange wire goes to the motor tab that is
currently connected to the right hand rail.

Tim Anders
Souderton, PA

sirgibby44

You definitly have a short in the loco.

Check the wiring on the trailing truck, it is the most likely place for shorts
to occur.  The two wires attached to the truck may look bare but they are not.
The insulation is very thin and may have rubbed through.
On the bottom of the truck are two brass ring lugs attached to the sideframes
by small screws and extend toward the center of the truck.  they overlap at the
center of the truck, make sure the screws are tight and the lugs are not touching.
The wires are attached to these lugs.

Mark one side frame and note which side.  Pull the truck straight down to remove the truck.
It works like a dress snap.  Check the wires for bare spots or burn marks.

If you find no evidence of shorting then replace the truck opposite (180deg) from the way
you found it and test the loco on the track.  If it still shorts you will have to disassemble
the loco further to locate the short.  The short is in the power wiring before the decoder.

Or you could send the loco to bachmann for replacement.

Tim Anders
Souderton, PA

Jonathan

Are you aware that you are missing the crosshead guides?

they are the two rods that extend from the main cylinders at
top and bottom an support the crosshead and piston rod>

Tim Anders
Souderton, PA

Precision Scale Co., Inc.

PCS-7512  W/stack

or

PCS-7511  for regular stack.

They will be cast brass.

http://www.precisionscaleco.com/

Tim Anders
Souderton, PA