Large Scale Central

Problems with Bachmann Climax

Electronics Power and Sound
#1

I have a unique problem with the sound of my Bachmann climax. This is the older version. I recently had a CVP G3 decoder with an external antenna and a Phoenix sound card P8 installed in my climax. It has a Cordless Renovations lithium-ion 14.8V, 2800 amp battery pack installed in its boiler. I also replaced the original rear shaft with the newer “slip” shaft. After lubing it for the first time, by removing as much of the original white grease I could, and applying LGB 51020 grease and LBJ 50019 oil according to the instructions provided, there were obvious mechanical problems with the front truck wheels and side pistons not moving at lower speeds and needing a nudge at higher speeds to start moving. This problem has mostly corrected itself by running the engine on rollers for about six hours, the mechanism appears to be freeing up.

But sound is the big problem. The engine makes all the right sounds when the tender switch is turned on but signal range is extremely limited for sound commands keyed by my CVP T-9000 throttle. I can not activate the sounds from the front of my engine, nor when I am more than 3 feet away regardless of position to the sides or behind the engine. Changing the position of the external antenna does not help. Commands to run the engine do not seem to have these same range limitations. I have talked to my installer but at this moment he is puzzled. We will get together after Thanksgiving and try to work this problem out. But until then does anyone on this forum know what is causing this problem and possible solutions? I replaced the batteries with new ones in the T-9000 without any effect.

My R/C Bachmann shay with an earlier installation of a CVP G2 decoder and P5 board has no sound problems.

Jim

#2

Jim,
Try changing frequencies. I know you have to get to the AW board to physically change
The frequency with a tine screwdriver.
You also have to program the loco number with the soundboard turned on as well.

#3

Hard to say. I would try to reset the address and frequency. Aside from opening it and checking the remote connection there isn’t a lot you can do. I would double check the wiring as well especially if the loco is preforming well and the sound isn’t.

Let us know what you find.

Terry

#4

John, the G3 uses the controller to program the freq. No more pot switch.

Terry

#5

MTS mod may still be on in the P8.

Richard

#6

Thanks to all who have offered suggestions.

John, Terry is right, the G3 board allows the T9000 to program both frequency and loco address. Both my shay and climax are on frequency 0. The climax was originally on frequency 1 but I changed it to 0 for convenience.

Terry, my installer and I will check wiring after I return from Thanksgiving travels.

Richard, what is MTS mod?

Thanks again, Jim

#7

This is thrum air wire

“P8 Setup Recommendations
! The throttle will directly program the Phoenix P8 address when you use SERVICE PROGRAM of
CV1 for the G3. Just make sure the P8 is connected and powered on. The remaining setup must be
done from the P8 computer port and with the Phoenix software.
! You must set the MTS mode to “disabled” so the DCC commands work correctly.
! Make sure all trigger pins are disabled since all commands come via the throttle.
! Save your configuration file under the locomotive number before disconnecting the computer
interface.”

I did not do this one time and had some problems.

Richard

#8

Good call Richard. When you plug the phoenix programmer into the P8 you can check and see if MTS is disabled. It can make the P8 be wonky if not disabled. They usually come preset disabled but I have seen a few enabled.

Terry

#9

Any luck Jim?

#10

I appreciate the suggestion from Richard sent on November 28th. And I intend to let anyone who is interested as to my progress toward a solution. But for now I am on a trip in Texas and won’t be able to get together with my installer for another 10 days or so. At that time I will let him know of your possible suggestions for solving my sound problem.

Thanks again for all your suggested solutions.

Jim

#11

I have had the opportunity to take my Bachmann climax with sound problems to my installer and this is what we have done so far. My T9000 throttle still has signal problems but my installer’s T5000 throttle had no problems communicating with my P8 sound card. After talking with Al at CVP we have sent my T9000 throttle to CVP for programming updates. My installer is considering trying a different G3 board and P8 board but since his T5000 throttle works, even at my T9000 setting, then it would appear that my T9000 is the problem. And yes, we did hook the P8 to his computer and reinstalled the program using Phoenix software. No change. The MTS mode is disabled and the trigger pins are disabled. So we are back to looking at the T9000 throttle as the problem.

I’ll provide another update when I receive my T9000 throttle back from CVP.

Jim

#12

Didn’t even think of the T9000. They had an issue where the antenna wouldn’t seat properly or could get broken due to the case and board alignment or some such thing. I’ve never seen one needing reprogramming but, I haven’t seen a lot of things. Al will take good care of you.

Terry

#13

Terry Burr said:

Didn’t even think of the T9000. They had an issue where the antenna wouldn’t seat properly or could get broken due to the case and board alignment or some such thing. I’ve never seen one needing reprogramming but, I haven’t seen a lot of things. Al will take good care of you.

Terry

The seating of the base of the antenna on the case of the T9000 has always been a problem. A simple fix…just make sure the threaded part(silver color) coming out of the board is centered in the round relief hole. This thing sometimes moves when you split the case to change batteries. I’ve never seen one of these T9000’s needing re-programming.

#14

all most all t9000 need to be re-programmed to get all of the features of the G3

Richard

#15

Greetings again, I am back to report that I have had success in solving my T9000 problem of not communicating with my Phoenix sound board at a distance greater than 2-3 feet. The T9000 was sent back to Al at CVP by my local installer and it was my understanding that my throttle would not take the programming updates. After replacing some of the internal electronics, Al was able to download the updates. My local installer informs me that all is well now with my T9000. And no, there was not any antenna problems. Now I need to pick up my controller and climax so that I can operate my trains again. Thanks to all of you that contributed ideas to solving my problem.

Jim