I installed a Digitrax DZ125 decoder in both of my Bachmann 2-8-0 steam locos. They run fine but my question concerns the top speed. It seems really slow for some reason. I set CV2=0, , CV5=154, and CV6=128. Maybe they have nothing to do with the speed but both locos seem really slow when compared to the same decoder installed in a KATO Mikado (a little more than half the top speed). I did perform a reset (CV8=8) but that didn't change anything. Any suggestions? Thanks.
It isnt the decoder, it is the loco. Kato Mikes can be jackrabbits, while the Bachmann 2-8-0 is a lumbering slow beast. I would look towards slowing down the Mikes. For speed matching, just set CV2 until the loco just starts to creap at speed step 1. Then set your CV5 for your top end. Set CV6 to be 1/2 of CD5. Done. David B
Did the 2-8-0's run as slow before the decoders were installed? If so maybe the mechanisms are a bit tight. I'd go along with the previous poster, half the Kato Mike's top speed is probably still twice as fast as the prototypes typical top speeds.
I have all my 2-8-0 with DZ123 or DZ125 equipped and let me say they work absolutely fine. This Bachmann loco is a "slow runner" so you cannot expect rocket speed. On the other hand your CV setting seem not fully exploited to me. CV5 is for the Highest speed possible but if you set it to 154 you cut of almost half of it. I would suggest these settings as they are well tested in my 2-8-0 engines: Set CV 65 to 0 in order to stop the kick start impulse. Set CV6 to 0 as well (you can bend the speed curve later if you like to). Then set CV5 to 255 as it is the highest speed and later on you can reduce this value in steps of 10 down if the speed is to fast for your tastes. Next adjust CV2 to your preferred starting speed on throttle step 1. Mine are creeping slower than a louse in our neighbours dog fur. If you are satisfied with these settings you set CV3+4 to a value of 2-4. As stated before I've had no hassles with these settings, this loki is on the easy side. Hope I could help! Mathi
I had the exact same problem with a new version of that particular decoder. Below is the advice I received on another forum -- it worked for me! "Turn off the BEMF and try again. CV57=0. I wonder if they are trying new BEMF code across the line - as there is a similar problem with some of the new sound decoders, even worse in that if BEMF is turned on and you hit the horn,t he loco stops. Turn off BEMF and it's fine." Bob
Yeah, thats something I missed to say! The manual is not easy to understand so it don't say anything about values under 5 for CV57. You can either turn the BEMF off or set CV57 to something lower. My 2-8-0 all run great with no change but other models like a setting to 2 or 4 in CV57. Regards Mathi
I had installed 7 of these decoders before. Then, months later, I ordered another one and put it into a locomotive very similar to the others. It did not put out the same voltage to the motor as did the previous 7 (or as two different brand decoders I measured). I wonder whether they changed something in the latest run of those particular decoders.
