Railsounds drop out

Try a battery to see if it's a brief power intermittency?

Thanks CJack. I'll try it, however the engine runs perfectly when the sound stops.

Rod Miller

I had a Northern that did that. Also, sometimes the IR tether needs some alignment or fix if it's got that.

If it's intermittently losing power, check the wheels/pickups and the track for cleanliness.  Another way to help this problem is by installing a battery.  Naturally, I recommend my forever battery, YLB - RailSounds Battery Replacement.

I tried the battery. No solution. I remembered a same situation I had with another Legacy engine. The cause was the volume pot. I turned it sharply high and low several times along with spraying air into it. Seems to have solved the drop out for now.

thanks for the suggestions

Rod Miller

Good that you may have it solved. I remember now my first sound drop out issue was a volume pot, but it was the cold solder joint rather than the wiper contact inside.

Rod, how is the alignment with the tether between engine and tender?   I see this often.  A good test will be to try to fire the rear coupler when the sound drops out.

Marty, I think the volume pot took care of it. I just may be lucky. I’ll check the alignment and try the coupler fire if it happens again. 

Rod Miller

romiller49 posted:

Thanks CJack. I'll try it, however the engine runs perfectly when the sound stops.

Rod Miller

Have two Legacy engines which do this, the sound drops out, over some long switches. Can't locate the post where, IIRC, someone from Lionel mentioned they changed the sound software and the Legacy ones would not just begin chuffing again as TMCC steam would after the voltage drop. Thought they mentioned it was being rectified on the Vision Big Boy? Seems odd the Vol Pot would be your cause but it is worth a try. We have purchased Johns YLB to be installed the next time we run them.

I have the Lionel Penn U Boat from several years ago and the same drop out happened. It was the vol pot also. Turned it low to high repetedly and blew air across it and has never dropped out again. The vol pot must be installed in order for sounds to work so it was worth the try. Think about an old radio that scratches when the volume was turned up or down. Once moved rapidly up and down the scratch sound went away. That was my reasoning.

Rod Miller