Proto 2 3V S2

PS2 3V uses a 4ohm speaker, so if an 8ohm speaker is in the locomotive it's been changed. Having an 8ohm speaker in place of a 4ohm speaker will for sure lower the volume. Also, if a PS2 3V locomotive hasn't been run in a bit, the BCR may need a minute to charge before full volume is reached.

The speaker has never been changed unless it was by MTH prior to delivery, I’ve owned since new and have never had any work done on this locomotive. Yesterday was the first time I removed the housing over the speaker to check which speaker it was. As for the BCR, I did consider the fact it had not been used in some time and waited about 5 minutes prior to starting the engine.

^^ Also when I contacted MTH parts and sales yesterday inquiring for a part number for the speaker after only giving the information that it was a proto 2 3V S2, they asked that I open the speaker housing to see what was stamped on the speaker because they said multiple speakers had been used in these over various production runs.

If you put a picture of the speaker and board inside the engine would be easier to help you! generally a lot of trains use 50mm 4-ohm speaker but to be sure we need to see a picture of your speaker! Star speaker has failed from magnetic flaking and can blow your audio chip!

Veco has a better sound speaker IMO Alan

Some of the MTH small switchers steam and diesel did use a smaller and 8 ohm speaker.  So picture would help.  Normally those speakers don't have issues with bad magnets.  Ohm it out to see if it is 8 ohms.

One thing that does reduce volume is a bad Battery charge circuit and low voltage on the battery/bcr.  Until the battery 2 pin connector rises above 2.7V the 3V processor reduces audio out as a protective measure.  Remove BCR from 2 pin.  If volume jumps back up you either have a bad bcr, bcr that needs longer to charge, or the charging part of the board has gone bad.  G

I unfortunately was not able to get a picture of the speaker today but it is oval in shape and is stamped 8 ohm 2 W.

I decided to take the BCR out to see if that was the issue…. Somehow this engine slipped through the cracks years ago and I did not put a BCR in it, (I’ll have to check the rest of the roster now). Adding a BCR fixed the sound level issue but I now have a speaker that sounds pretty raspy that I assume is blown. MTH Parts and Sales says that it should be a BF0000040 speaker. Assuming the speaker is bad, what is involved in replacing it?

Thanks!

Any 4ohm, 50mm speaker will work in that locomotive.

No it won't unless your going to hack up the fuel tank.  That is the smaller speaker in rectangular plastic bracket.  I have the 4 ohm version if MTH doesn't have it.  G