Last week I received my new B&O Lion Chief Plus A5 Switcher. Beautiful little locomotive, but after a day it lost all sounds. I had purchased it from a great dealer, who immediately swapped it out for another. Tonight I had the new one out of the box and on the rails, and noted some sound hesitancy, even drop outs, on 031 curves. That did not happen on 042 curves. Manual says 036 is the minimum, and I guess it means what it says. Could the sharper curves be pulling the tether out of the socket just enough to give the sound hesitancy?
I guess I can limit it to 042 and above, but then it can't go in the smaller yards, where 031 and 027 are located.
Can other owners share their experience?
Also, what is that knurled metal rod packed with the locomotive? See photo......