Recently aquired low time MTH 20-3106-1 4 truck Shay from 2003 8.4 5V board. Running DCS current software in TIU and remotes. After start up sound sequence there are no "idle" sounds, just a high frequency noise. All bell, whistle, chuff, cab chatter, freight yard sounds, shutdown sequence sounds all normal and clear and play over the top of the high pitched noise. Couplers, lights, direction/speed control all normal. Installed new battery, accomplished factory reset, inspected speaker and wiring for any abnormalities, all ok. Good connection from tender to engine. It seems like the idle sound portion of the sound set got scrambled somehow? Would a reload of the sound set for the engine from MTH website be a place to start or maybe its a sound board issue or an amplifier? I'm a little concerned about messing with anything on the old 5V PS2 board. OR...Do I just live with the obnoxious high pitched sound and turn up the radio? Thanks for any advice!
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Check the speaker for metal flaking first. The Star speakers were notorious for this problem in early PS2 5V. I would discourage you from using the engine until it is checked out.
Thanks Joe. Speaker is ok, no flaking or other signs of deterioration. The mystery is why just the idle sounds are affected and nothing else.
Sounds like the sound file is the problem to me. If it was mine I would try reloading it. If there was a problem, there may have been a new sound file for this engine. Maybe someone who has this engine could chime in with their experience with this engine's sound.
Joe is correct, I think reloading the sound file might be called for.
Good morning everyone, West coast time I reloaded the sound file last night with no change to the lack of idle sounds, just the high frequency sound in the background. The other sounds play clearly and I don't see any flaking of the speaker. I'm thinking about trying another speaker to see if that makes a difference? I may have to order one since I'm not sure what I have lying around.
There were two sound files available for this engine on MTH's website, the second one was the PS2 upgrade one that I assumed is for the 3v board which I don't have. The sound set for the original is pretty generic so maybe I should try a sound set from a different engine of similar type?
Interesting discovery, I listened to an MP3 file on MTH's website for another Shay 20-3190-2 from 2005 and the same high frequency noise is present on that sound set that I'm having an issue with. I'm wondering if it is just an anomaly with the recording and that's all? I did find a later PS3 sound set that is way better but its a bummer I can't swap that one to the old 5v board.
You also know the speaker could be going. Bad and can't reproduce the correct sounds in that instance try a known good speaker anyway to prove a speaker problem . Only takes a few minutes to try's it !
Alan
I do believe that is a normal sound for the shay. G
Follow up to the high frequency sound at idle coming from my Shay 20-3106-1 5v. I finally had time to try a different sound file from a RK 30-1298-1 2-8-4 5v Berkshire that I liked. The high pitched sound is gone so it looks like it was on the original sound file from the Shay. The "new" sound file works fine but the speed is way off (about half the speed of what shows on the DCS remote). Am I correct that the speed difference is to be expected due to the sound file coming from a completely different engine? Is there any risk of engine damage running it with inaccurate speed info? I won't be doing a lash up with this engine. I can reload the original sound file and put up with the high frequency sound if there is a risk of damaging the engine with the large speed difference. Thanks!
Yes speed ratios come from sf. No harm. G