Bachmann announce all new Class 37

[Alcanman]

3 hours ago, hminh2005 said:

Hello

 

I am a new member. I have a loco of Bachmann class 37, DCC sound.

However, its sound is very low. How to increase its volume?

 

Thanks

As mentioned above, CV63 increases master volume. However, if you have an older Bachmann 37 which were fitted with Loksound v3.5 decoders, the max volume is CV = 64. These locos has relatively 'quiet' sound compared to later Loksound v4.0.

 

[hminh2005]

4 hours ago, Alcanman said:

As mentioned above, CV63 increases master volume. However, if you have an older Bachmann 37 which were fitted with Loksound v3.5 decoders, the max volume is CV = 64. These locos has relatively 'quiet' sound compared to later Loksound v4.0.

 

Thanks. How to know the version of Locksound decoder?

[Alcanman]

1 hour ago, hminh2005 said:

Thanks. How to know the version of Locksound decoder?

If you can only increase max volume in CV63 to 64 then the decoder is a Loksound V3.5. If you can increase CV63 to 192 then it's a Loksound 4.0, Loksound 5.0 or a Loksound Select.

[The Fatadder]

3 minutes ago, Alcanman said:

If you can only increase max volume in CV63 to 64 then the decoder is a Loksound V3.5. If you can increase CV63 to 192 then it's a Loksound 4.0, Loksound 5.0 or a Loksound Select.

Thats useful to know, I have a last gen Bachmann model that's sound fitted which really needs a speaker upgrade to match my other sound fitted last gen model (with sugar cubes in the 3d printed fuel tanks).   But I cant recall if its a 3.5 (and thus more difficult to source speakers) or a 4.   Visually I always find it tricky to see the difference between the two.

 

Looking forward to finally testing 37401 this evening (and having a look at a spare 37401 body tomorrow).  before I make a start on repainting the latter into Intercity Swallow as 501.  The more interesting conversion / repaint of one of them into 37668 will probably not progress much until spring and warmer temperatures... 

[Albie the plumber]

12 hours ago, hminh2005 said:

Hello

 

I am a new member. I have a loco of Bachmann class 37, DCC sound.

However, its sound is very low. How to increase its volume?

 

Thanks

V3'5 decoders used 100 Ohm speakers .

The ohm rating is usually printed on the underside of the speaker 

Edited December 29, 2023 by Albie the plumber

[Kaput]

On 29/12/2023 at 06:04, hminh2005 said:

Hello

 

I am a new member. I have a loco of Bachmann class 37, DCC sound.

However, its sound is very low. How to increase its volume?

 

Thanks

 

 

The important question which nobody has asked you, which specific Class 37 and is it a factory sound one?

 

Everyone has dived into reeling off ESU decoder information without even checking which version of 37 and being that this is the new tooling 37 thread the factory sound ones have Zimo decoders (which use CV266 for volume).

[The Fatadder]

Finally been able to test run 37401, not overly impressed with the sound set up.  There’s so much distortion coming from the speaker.  Will get the sprog set up this evening and turn the volume down for now, but a speaker replacement will certainly be on the shopping list in the future.

 

 

more concerning the loco is making a squealing sound when it moves (with the dcc sound off).  There’s no tightness in the wheels so it’s either in the gears or motor that’s causing the issue.  I’d rather not return under warranty (I’d like to start prepping it for its respray) so will investigate further.  My hope is a spot of oil and some running in will do the job.

just have to remember where I put the oil…

 

 

A spare 37401 shell arrived from eBay today which will end up as 510.  I have already removed the glazing and handrails, fitted plasticard blanks to the horns and masked / sprayed a first coat of white.  Annoyingly I’ve ran out so can’t do a second coat(and there’s no where local that sells paint.)

im torn about the grey, obviously it should be Falcon grey, but 510 had faded so much by 1999 it looks somewhat closer to Exec dark grey.  I’d admit I’ve used them interchangeably on coaches to get the variation in colour that was visible in the late 90 GWT fleet and it’s got me thinking the same should apply here.  Once I have paint and the white is finished I will have another look and make a call…

[The Fatadder]

A question on the sound fitted models, should it be making a sound (like a click or clunk) every time you turn on or off a light?  And if it is supposed to do it can you make it stop?

[meanach]

1 hour ago, The Fatadder said:

A question on the sound fitted models, should it be making a sound (like a click or clunk) every time you turn on or off a light?  And if it is supposed to do it can you make it stop?

All mine make that noise , so I’m guessing it’s part of their DNA !

[GD]

2 hours ago, The Fatadder said:

A question on the sound fitted models, should it be making a sound (like a click or clunk) every time you turn on or off a light?  And if it is supposed to do it can you make it stop?

It's really annoying isn't it? The 47 is the same, I had the 47 sounds reblown with Jamie Goodman sounds.

[The Fatadder]

that’s annoying re the clunk, you’d think there would be a simple cv to turn it off.

 

im guessing the squealing noise without sound is going to be a lot more tricky to track down and there’s a good chance it will be heading back to Barwell before I am able to get to work on the conversion 

[55020]

10 minutes ago, GD said:

It's really annoying isn't it? The 47 is the same, I had the 47 sounds reblown with Jamie Goodman sounds.

 

The 47 "light switch" sound IS really annoying and way too loud.  I'm just about to reblow the decoder with the free ESU sound file.

 

Steve

[The Fatadder]

Having got more advice, sounds like it’s either the motor not fitted properly or a dodgy speaker.   Now noticed the lights are t working at one end either,  will contact MRD on Tuesday and it can go back to Bachmann

[APT Fan]

3 hours ago, The Fatadder said:

Having got more advice, sounds like it’s either the motor not fitted properly or a dodgy speaker.   Now noticed the lights are t working at one end either,  will contact MRD on Tuesday and it can go back to Bachmann

 

I'm sorry to hear that, it's bad luck and very unusual. I have two 37 SFX's and they've both been perfect as was my latest 47, there has been a noticeable improvement in the sound on the recent models compared with my Class 158 and Class 90 which are a little older. Generally I haven't had a single problem with anything Bachmann and have been very pleased over all.

 

In terms of the light switches, I'm pretty sure the lights were relay operated hence the 'click', I've tried unsuccessfully to download the circuit diagrams tonight but anything relay operated does give a noticeable and reassuring clunk to tell the operator that the power has been applied. At the end of the day, how often do we switch the lights on and off, does the click matter that much?

 

As an Electrical Engineer I've become accustomed to listening to the sound of electrical plant and understanding what they mean. I have a sound fitted 87 and its a noisy rascal but all that noise is the cooling fans rather than the motors or the DC Drives and I'm not sure many people appreciate that. In reality and with a bit of hindsight, I'm not sure it was that necessary to move that amount of air that loudly just to keep the drives cool. We see today electrical cars driving around that are almost silent, but then again we've moved to inverter drives now.

Edited December 31, 2023 by APT Fan

[NHY 581]

12 hours ago, The Fatadder said:

Having got more advice, sounds like it’s either the motor not fitted properly or a dodgy speaker.   Now noticed the lights are t working at one end either,  will contact MRD on Tuesday and it can go back to Bachmann

 

Morning Rich. 

 

MRD are shut.........as per below. 

 

 

Rob

 

 

[Albie the plumber]

Whatever the make of the decoder or the sound file, there is in all probability a CV that will silence or maybe turn down the volume of the door clunk .

Its worth contacting the sound author of that project , they're usually very helpful.

[bazil31]

I also have the squealing noise on 2 of my Bachmann 37's both SFX versions.

37 034 and the latest release 37 069 which is a bit reluctant to move in reverse.

Going pop 069 back to shop and let them have a listen, they have a spare new one to replace if needed.

With 37034 was told it could be the controller I was using might not be compatible and Bachmann suggested using one of their own controllers.

Doesn't sound right to me I am using a NCE Powercab.

I have run it for a good few hours and it definitely has quietened down a bit but you can still hear it without the sound on.

 

[The Fatadder]

Was speaking to someone who had taken one apart to investigate the squealing last night, apparently the cause is a deformity in the motor fixing plate  which causes it to apply pressure to the underside of the motor.    
 

 

[meatloaf]

On 30/12/2023 at 20:15, The Fatadder said:

Having got more advice, sounds like it’s either the motor not fitted properly or a dodgy speaker.   Now noticed the lights are t working at one end either,  will contact MRD on Tuesday and it can go back to Bachmann

Haha hope thats not model railways direct. I got banned for daring to return a faulty class 37......

[Hal Nail]

I hadn't really thought about this before but these buildings probably reflect more clearly than stock, a general shift in aspiration these days towards being able to buy a perfect layout, rather than build one.

 

That's not meant to be a criticism because its a hobby and people are free to enjoy whatever they want, although that isn't the angle I enjoy which is making things as individual as my abilities allow. That said in 7mm, I am more likely to buy r-t-r to modify it than start with a kit these days and I guess the trick and probably the challenge for manufacturers is to adapt to changing demand, whilst keeping the resulting product affordable. 

[NHY 581]

8 hours ago, meatloaf said:

Haha hope thats not model railways direct. I got banned for daring to return a faulty class 37......

 

Interesting. You're not the first I've heard saying something along those lines. 

 

Rob

 

 

[The Fatadder]

2 hours ago, NHY 581 said:

 

Interesting. You're not the first I've heard saying something along those lines. 

 

Rob

 

 

Certainly gives pause for thought buying from that retailer again, though at the levels of discount at which I bought 401 I would still take a punt.

 

In this case I’ve decided I can’t be bothered waiting until the 16th and have just fixed it myself.   All be it a process that’s taken several hours to suss out
 

The lights issue were traced back to a dodgy switch unit for the DC controls (simple fix using cutting the wires and directly linking S1 to F1.)  the rest of the wires and the switch were then completely removed.

 

The poorly fitting motor mount was straightened, along with flash removed to get it seated correctly which stopped the squealing.  
 

 

the next step will be removing the fuel tanks as per @Daddyman’s thread to get them fitted properly and chopping up the nose grills on the body in preparation for its respray.     (With the work that’s still to come clearly I couldn’t care less about the warranty, though I’d hope the sound decoder is still covered)

 

 

edit: I should add that the connector between body and chassis at the nose end is incredibly weak, with a variation in stiffness present between sockets.  On mine the socket at the no1 end was a lot stiffer than the other end and broke off the board.  Twice I’ve soldered it back on only for it to fail again the next time I removed the body.  For now I’m ignoring it, but next time I will just solder the wires directly from the end to the corresponding wires on the chassis (though first I will email Bachmann to see if there’s any chance of buying a replacement part) 

Edited January 1 by The Fatadder

[meanach]

7 hours ago, The Fatadder said:

Certainly gives pause for thought buying from that retailer again, though at the levels of discount at which I bought 401 I would still take a punt.

 

In this case I’ve decided I can’t be bothered waiting until the 16th and have just fixed it myself.   All be it a process that’s taken several hours to suss out
 

The lights issue were traced back to a dodgy switch unit for the DC controls (simple fix using cutting the wires and directly linking S1 to F1.)  the rest of the wires and the switch were then completely removed.

 

The poorly fitting motor mount was straightened, along with flash removed to get it seated correctly which stopped the squealing.  
 

 

the next step will be removing the fuel tanks as per @Daddyman’s thread to get them fitted properly and chopping up the nose grills on the body in preparation for its respray.     (With the work that’s still to come clearly I couldn’t care less about the warranty, though I’d hope the sound decoder is still covered)

 

 

edit: I should add that the connector between body and chassis at the nose end is incredibly weak, with a variation in stiffness present between sockets.  On mine the socket at the no1 end was a lot stiffer than the other end and broke off the board.  Twice I’ve soldered it back on only for it to fail again the next time I removed the body.  For now I’m ignoring it, but next time I will just solder the wires directly from the end to the corresponding wires on the chassis (though first I will email Bachmann to see if there’s any chance of buying a replacement part) 

Almost every one of the 37430 / 401 /423 I’ve taken apart have this issue yet Bachmann told me they hadn’t had any feedback regarding this issue ! Admittedly this was a few months ago but yours and others post highlight this is clearly a common manufacturing fault. 

[Daddyman]

1 hour ago, meanach said:

Almost every one of the 37430 / 401 /423 I’ve taken apart have this issue yet Bachmann told me they hadn’t had any feedback regarding this issue ! Admittedly this was a few months ago but yours and others post highlight this is clearly a common manufacturing fault. 

I have all three and have never run them... think I might have voided the warranty too! 

[The Fatadder]

2 hours ago, meanach said:

Almost every one of the 37430 / 401 /423 I’ve taken apart have this issue yet Bachmann told me they hadn’t had any feedback regarding this issue ! Admittedly this was a few months ago but yours and others post highlight this is clearly a common manufacturing fault. 

I guess in that case I had better email them with some feedback tomorrow I think.  Seeing as I need to ask about getting a new part to replace the broken lighting socket, I will do it at the same time...