Full Version: Bachmann S2 Sound Value is noisy and buzzing.
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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 lame 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
I get two immediate ideas
- If breaking in does not reduce the running noise you can totally disassemble the trucks and inspect the tooth one by one.
- I am concerned about the sound at a muted and standing engine. What is the source? The speaker (some of my Tsunami are not complete quiet) or the motor (is the decoder still "playing" with the motor?). I have no idea how to "repair" a decoder.
I agree...the buzzing when the sound files are muted is the most worrying thing. The other noise I can deal with by breaking in the loco and then fine-tuning the geartrain. But the buzzing could be more complicated since I think it is either a decoder issue or some sort of wiring/speaker issue. Nope



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The buzzing sound when the soundfiles are muted has been fixed. On a suggestion by Johnny aka Brokenrail over at the Bachmann forum....switching CV 217 to 0 solved the problem....CV217 on the Soundtraxx SoundValue decoders for Bachmann controls BEMF...setting it to 0 turns it off.
So now its just a matter of tweaking the running gear to quieten the gear noise.
Genetk44 Wrote:The buzzing sound when the soundfiles are muted has been fixed. On a suggestion by Johnny aka Brokenrail over at the Bachmann forum....switching CV 217 to 0 solved the problem....CV217 on the Soundtraxx SoundValue decoders for Bachmann controls BEMF...setting it to 0 turns it off.
So now its just a matter of tweaking the running gear to quieten the gear noise.

That means the buzzing sound happens only when the motor is running. The is no buzzing sound if the motor is (totally) stopped. Right?
(I understood at first the motor buzzes even if stopped, that would be a serious decoder malfunction)

That is not a problem to be concerned but more or less normal. Especially at low speed is the decoder hard working to get the motor under control. That creates more buzzing sound as more mechanical tension/resistance has to be overcome. Switching BEMF off inhibits that process but you are loosing a nice part of DCC decoder functionality.
You should switch it on again after you have completed the inspection and optimizing of the mechanical components. A smooth running running makes it very easy for the decoder and the decoder will not need to control the motor with harsh.
CV 212 controls how harsh the decoder will control the motor. A lower value makes the handling more gentle and less noisy.
Reinhard...the buzzing was happening with the power on but at speed-step 0 with the loco standing absolutely still.
With the BEMF off the buzzing is gone and the loco still crawls at speed-step 1. I am travelling for the next 2 weeks but when I return I will get to work on smoothing the gears and trying to find out why the gears make so much noise.
Maybe BEMF was just set a bit too high, instead of turning it completely off, I believe you can reduce it's effect too (pulses becoming less powerful) which may also bring the noise level down, and retain good control. But if it responds well to your liking now, then all is good.