Bachmann 2-Shay Climax

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kajohnson9

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I do have a question regarding Bachmann's 35 ton 2-shay Climax . I have the DC version. The manual implies there is the chuff sound of either 2 chuffs per revolution or 4. I know where the switch is but no matter where I set the switch I get no sound. Is there some other setting I need to make to get the sound? And is there any volume control on the unit?
Thanks for any help you can give me.
Keith Johnson
 
Hi Keith
Unfortunately your model does come with the chuff triggers but no sound module.
You could add a DCC sound module (which also work on DC) ESU, Massoth, etc etc and you might find one cheaper second hand...
OR...
One of the cheaper DC units like 'MyLocoSound' (the owner is a member of this forum... 'Moonraker' )
You might also find an older DC Soundtraxx Sierra module going cheap on ebay etc (great sound but now not supported by Soundtraxx anymore)
There is also the Phoenix sound cards (both DC and DCC available) which are possibly the best sound but also not so cheap!

Phoenix...... Phoenix Sound Products
Mylocosound ..... Large Scale Steam
info on Soundtraxx sierra ... Soundtraxx Sierra
 
I assume the description is "Bachmann 2 TRUCK Climax".

As I understand it, there have been 2 versions, one with the "socket" (latest version) and one without. Look in the coal bunker and see if you see a "dummy board" plugged into a socket of 2 rows of contacts about 2 inches apart.

The newer version has electronics that are the "chuff triggers" you would interface to. Since this version already has the socket, I would purchase a board that just plugs in, but that is about $180 I think.

The alternative is to wire in a less expensive sound board, and you need to ensure how it interfaces to the chuff electronics, they are not simple contacts.

Now if you don't have this board and socket in the coal bunker, you have the early version, and I don't have the documentation on it.

You can get the pdf files for the latest version on the Bachmann site.

Greg
 
Keith,
As Greg says, check for the plug in board. It's G850X+PCB01 on the diagram. If you have this "DCC Ready" version there will be a Wire Connection Board in the accessory bag. This is a PC board with a bunch of 3" wires soldered to it. Actually, it might be easiest to just check for the Wire Connection Board in the bag. I'm attaching the wiring diagram. I haven't been able to find this on the Bachmann website and scanned the one that came with my engine.
Ken

Resized Wiring Diagram.jpg
 
PS
Check out Tony Walsham's RCS website. He has an article about adding battery RC to the DCC ready Climax and sells a PnP-ADAPT board that adds screw terminals if you don want to use the Bachmann Wire Connection Board.
 
Thank you all for your inputs. Now I know what I'm dealing with and I have some directions to go. I will get this resolved so I do have sound.
Thanks again.
Keith
 
Let us know how it goes. I will be particularly interested since what you discover may help me decide how to proceed with my engine.
 
I assume I have the newer model as I have a wire connection board (G850X-PCB05 Rev A). I am also installing a TE Revolution (with generic steam sound). I need to determine if I can just use the TE board for the sound. My next question is is there a speaker in the climax? I guess I still have some investigation to do.
Keith
 
In the newer model the speaker is inside the bunker, under the main PCB facing downward.
Chassis _ Banker Assemblies.jpg
 
I put Massoth XLS decoders in the two news Climaxes I have. I used the included board with the wires to connect. The chuff wire connects straight to the XLS. There is a speaker included in the loco. One strange property when comparing the two engines. On one the firebox flickers when stationary and moving. On the other is flickers when stationary and is constantly on when moving!

Geoff
 
LGeoB, Good info. Just one question: what is the XLS? Can you please explain so I don't screw the connection. Thanks

Keith
 
kajohnson9 said:
LGeoB, Good info. Just one question: what is the XLS? Can you please explain so I don't screw the connection. Thanks

Keith
Click to expand...
Hi Keith,

The XLS is a combined loco and sound decoder from Massoth (Germany) designed for large engines. Massoth had a long association with LGB and is popular in Europe. In the Climax it sits nicely on top of the supplied plug in board.

Geoff
 
beavercreek said:
Hi Keith
Unfortunately your model does come with the chuff triggers but no sound module.
You could add a DCC sound module (which also work on DC) ESU, Massoth, etc etc and you might find one cheaper second hand...
OR...
One of the cheaper DC units like 'MyLocoSound' (the owner is a member of this forum... 'Moonraker' )
You might also find an older DC Soundtraxx Sierra module going cheap on ebay etc (great sound but now not supported by Soundtraxx anymore)
There is also the Phoenix sound cards (both DC and DCC available) which are possibly the best sound but also not so cheap!

Phoenix...... Phoenix Sound Products
Mylocosound ..... Large Scale Steam
info on Soundtraxx sierra ... Soundtraxx Sierra
Click to expand...
Okay, still not functioning the way I want it. So I have a Train Engineer Revolution board (no sound) that I'm taking out of a non-running railcar. It has a Phoenix P8 sound board. I can upgrade the sound to the Phoenix Shay sound. If I put this (Revolution and P8) into the Climax, how do I hook up to the Climax internal speaker? I believe I can attach the P8 board to the underside of the bunker cover. Not sure where else to put it.
Thanks in advance for any help anyone can give me.
 
Thanks, and I do have the phoenix P8 wire diagram. Actually,the P8 is already connected to a speaker in my old Rail Car. So I can just unplug it from the old speaker and plug into the Climax board.Hopefully, it's the same connector.
Thanks again,
Keith
 
It is not the same connector. There is no real standard for speaker connectors.

If you want a clean install, you could probably find a male connector to let you keep the bachmann connector and then wire that to the Phoenix plug.

If not, cut the bachmann connector off and wire to the P8 connector.

How are you handling the chuff? Autochuff? Wired?

Greg
 
Thanks for the advice. I think I have a male connector that seems to fit the Bachmann female end. As far as the chuff, I was planning to just use the Phoenix Shay sound files. Not sure how all of this will work out.
 
It's Working. I have sound. Thanks to everyone who contributed. So I have a Revolution board with sound (steam). Works just fine for controlling speed and direction. I disconnected the speaker wire from the Climax board, cut the connector off, added a different connector to the Climax wire and the Revolution speaker wire (I could have just soldered the together, but I love making more work for myself). Ran the Climax on my test rack, and nothing. :devil: Then I remembered I had to latch the F1 key on the transmitter. AHA Sound :) One more thing to do: figure out how to turn the volume down.
But thanks to everyone. It's great to have a source of great information.
Keith
 
So you are using the Revolution for sound, and not the Phoenix?

Post #13 says you have a non-sound revolution and a Phoenix P8
Post #18 says you have a sound revolution and no mention of the P8
(I'll assume #18 is the current state of affairs)

So back to an earlier question, are you using autochuff or did you hook up the chuff trigger?

Greg
 
IF you are using the Phoenix board:
Sound volume is controlled by a SPDT (on)-off-(on) switch.. If you confirm you have a P8, I can tell you where to wire it on the board..
 
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