I'd be trying disabling DC running in CV29 based on getting one of them to respond for a bit.
I also recommend investing in a decoder tester (Both Zimo and ESU do one or if you are really cheap considering its basically a clone of the ESU one, LaisDCC do them as well). Very handy to test decoders out of locos.
Unlikely to matter but could be a similar issue, the new tooling Class 47 I had (got rid cause I really need to stop getting big huge locos on a 6x4 roundy layout) almost always refused to program via my Lokprogrammer but if the decoder was removed and programmed outside of the loco it was fine.
One thing just dawned me, what is the Bachmann product code of your decoders? The B versions are the new MN decoders and my honest opinion of the Zimo MS/MN series just now is the firmware is extremely half baked compared with the MX and they just seem much more flakey.