31-368DS 03 with Factory fitted sound

[meatloaf]

Has anyone got one of these yet?

 

There out and Digitrains have put a video up and it sounds pretty good.

 

Very tempted to get one but im wondering what its performance is like over insulfrogs as I have an older 6 pin 03 and its not great over pointwork at all and spends most if its time in the box.

[Butler Henderson]

4 hours ago, meatloaf said:

Has anyone got one of these yet?

 

There out and Digitrains have put a video up and it sounds pretty good.

 

Very tempted to get one but im wondering what its performance is like over insulfrogs as I have an older 6 pin 03 and its not great over pointwork at all and spends most if its time in the box.

Are all the pick ups bearing on the back of the wheels correctly?

[meatloaf]

Yeah I think so its fine on plain track it just dosent like the points. I had considered changing to electrofrogs but my double slip would still be the insulfrog

 

[royaloak]

Have you tested it by turning the loco upside down and using wires direct onto one wheel on each side at a time and, as the wheel rotates, ease it from side to side to ensure the pickups remain in contact with the wheels at all times.

 

All you have proved by it running on plain line is that at least 1 pickup is in contact with the wheels on both sides.

Edited December 3, 2019 by royaloak

[Butler Henderson]

Have an insulfrog double slip on my layout and my 03s have no problem with it.

[lapford34102]

6 hours ago, royaloak said:

All you have proved by it running on plain line is that at least 1 pickup is in contact with the wheels on both sides.

Agree, plain track running proves only what RoyalOak has said. Test each wheel individually. Both my "Mk2"  03's needed the pichups tweaking to get decent running

 

Stu

[pauliebanger]

Not the prefered solution to poor electrical connections, but there's plenty of space for a compact Stay Alive, and Bachmann have thoughtfully provided solder pads on the PCB (V- and V+) to which the negative and positive poles of the capacitors (respectively) should be connected.

 

Of course, if none of the pick ups ever make contact with the wheels, even a Stay Alive will not be able to charge up.

 

Bachmann's own bargain* sound-fitted 03 will be available soon.

 

*That is, at £80 premium over the basic analogue examples (advertised discounted prices) it's cheaper than buying and fitting a sound decoder yourself and no installation work needed. (Although Bachmann have also made this so easy that its almost 'plug and play').

 

Best regards,

 

Paul

Edited December 3, 2019 by pauliebanger

[meatloaf]

To answer my own question, ive had a reply from Bachmann and it has a Zimo MX658N18 fitted

[Phil Mason]

I've got one of these and it's basically useless. The decoder constantly trips out on any type of track imperfection. 
 

I can run the old split chassis version over dead frogs no problem. 
 

And the sound is poor when it does work. 
 

I'm guessing the only way to make this a 'useful engine' is fitting stay alive. Why don't Bachmann add this to the chip? It'd cost them about another 50p on a £170 plus loco. 
 

Phil Mason

 

Edited February 17, 2021 by Phil Mason

[lwnameplates]

well bought one to shunt stock in my station and i must say disappointed, find there is little weight and wont even pull 4 mk1s on a straight piece of track that's flat so dog doo doo. think one to add to the get rid of pile, must say Bachmann are really disappointing me recently.

[reded23]

Here's how I put a Stay Alive in this. Made the world of difference! http://yourmodelrailway.net/view_topic.php?id=16644&forum_id=99

 

 

Edited March 13, 2021 by reded23