2080S - can’t get sound or horn to work

[drewsonofdean]

Hi everyone,

Fairly new to the hobby. I recently purchased a 2080S. It seems to be in very good condition.

I purchased the 2060/3 track ramp style horn activator. (My 2080S has the two metal probes that stick out the bottom).

I’ve also put a 9V battery on the side box.

When it runs over the track activator nothing happens! No sound.

Any suggestions on how I could troubleshoot this?

Thanks!

 

[dunnyrail]

I have a very old 2080s, I remember there was a small green round electronic component that fitted to the side of the chassis into 2 small holes. I wonder if this could be the problem if missing. Mine not fitted as it has now been converted to battery power, my green thing lost a decade or three back.

 

[drewsonofdean]

Yeah mine has the two holes too.

But then what are the little metal prongs on the bottom for? The push down and are spring loaded or something.

 

[Gizzy]

Yeah mine has the two holes too.

But then what are the little metal prongs on the bottom for? The push down and are spring loaded or something.

Are these the skates that pick up power from the rails?

There may be other buttons that contact the ramps you have too, between the wheels.

2080S is quite an old model, but will be well made as an original LGB item.

And welcome to the forum....

 

[drewsonofdean]

Are these the skates that pick up power from the rails?

There may be other 'Burton's that contact the ramps you have too, between the wheels.

2080S is quite an old model, but will be well made as an original LGB item.

And welcome to the forum....

They are in between the wheels.
I bought some ramps 2060/3 that I believe are supposed to trigger them but nothing happens.

Thanks for the welcome, glad to be here!

 

[Gizzy]

They are in between the wheels.
I bought some ramps 2060/3 that I believe are supposed to trigger them but nothing happens.

Thanks for the welcome, glad to be here!

No worries. Try cleaning up the contacts for the battery as if these are cruddy, it might stop the sound working.

I have a later version of the Ballerina loco....

 

[SevenOfDiamonds]

Does anything here . . .




. . . help? Maybe the "small volume control knob fitted beneath the left side water tank"?



Confusingly, the instructions also say . . .


. . . but, unless they also issued the 2080S without sound (in which case, why the "S"?), I presume they meant to say you can't upgrade a 2080D to have sound.

PS You say "horn", but the 2080S has a bell (c above) and a whistle (b). A horn (as I understand it) would be on a diesel engine, rather than the 2080S that is a steam engine. Just checking we are not at cross-purposes.

Cheers

David

 

[Software Tools]

If it's a very old 2080s, which seems likely, the analog sound electronics has most likely failed. Unlike the drive mechanism, they were just not designed for a 40+ year service life. All of my older pre-digital locos that came with sound ceased making noises quite a while ago now. Also the sounds were not very good compared to what we get nowadays from digital sound.

 

[drewsonofdean]

Does anything here . . .

View attachment 336438
View attachment 336437

. . . help? Maybe the "small volume control knob fitted beneath the left side water tank"?

View attachment 336440

Confusingly, the instructions also say . . .

View attachment 336439
. . . but, unless they also issued the 2080S without sound (in which case, why the "S"?), I presume they meant to say you can't upgrade a 2080D to have sound.

PS You say "horn", but the 2080S has a bell (c above) and a whistle (b). A horn (as I understand it) would be on a diesel engine, rather than the 2080S that is a steam engine. Just checking we are not at cross-purposes.

Cheers

David

Thanks David! That is very helpful.

So I have everything set up properly it seems and it’s not working. You’re probably right about the sound system being done for.

So if I were to replace it and keep the same system (where you run over the 2060/3 rail and it activates the bell/whistle or the engine sound), is that possible?

I noticed a few guys on here have modded their 2080S with a new sound system that is more modern. I’m wondering if it activates via the same mechanism? (Running over the track activators).

Thanks!

Drew

 

[dunnyrail]

Hm the more modern way with sound system activation is a reed switch inside the loco activated by a track magnet. I have Trainline 45 locomotives that also have this system, been converted to battery power but bell or whistle activated at those track magnets. Your fix could be possible but need quite a bit of faffing. The connection on the plungers replacing the reed switch.

 

[PhilP]

It could be done with either a MyLocoSound card, or a DCC decoder (which must have external triggers, to operate from the plunger).

The DCC option, would be more difficult, as you would need to alter some of the CV's, for which you would need more tech.
The MLS, you could do without this.

PhilP

 

[dunnyrail]

It could be done with either a MyLocoSound card, or a DCC decoder (which must have external triggers, to operate from the plunger).

The DCC option, would be more difficult, as you would need to alter some of the CV's, for which you would need more tech.
The MLS, you could do without this.

PhilP

I was thinking MLS but was not sure, glad you clarified that.

 

[Dan]

I changed out the bottom spring type sensors to reeds. Sound bell and whistle now work anywhere there is a magnet on the track, no special section needed, and will work at club and friends layouts.

 

[dunnyrail]

I changed out the bottom spring type sensors to reeds. Sound bell and whistle now work anywhere there is a magnet on the track, no special section needed, and will work at club and friends layouts.

Well done, rock n roll oh well bells n whistles!

 

[John Russo]

Diagram 4 on the third page of the Loco Manual-3 may provide some insight. You would have to use Google Translate to translate the wording.

Pages 1 and 2 are in English.

It seems the 2060 rails push the buttons "c" and "b"