Help. Lion Chief + 2.0 Static in sound

What happens if you remove the foam inserts from under the trucks?

@Yendor posted:

What happens if you remove the foam inserts from under the trucks?

You are supposed to remove those???? That's what I've been doing wrong all this time???

I have three LC+ 2.0 locomotives on the layout.  None of them make any static sounds before I start them up.  I also don't hear static in the normal running sounds. I tried the Polar Express LC+ 2.0, the PRR RS3 LC+ 2.0 and the PRR 0-6-0T LC+ 2.0.

Hard to imagine that's normal.

@BobbyDing posted:

Hi folks. I'm just getting back into the hobby after a multi year hiatus. Just purchased a Lion Chief + 2.0 NYC Hudson as my first engine. Everything works great except I notice when I turn down the overall volume via the app, there is audible static. Bringing the sound back up I think the static is still thete, but it's drowned out by the normal sounds. I've tried a different power source and track. Same. I'm going to attempt attaching a video. We'll see how it goes. So I thought I'd ask the expers, I am wondering if this is just normal for these units or do I have a detective loco?

Thanks... Bobby(

are you sure it’s not the fan in the smoke unit?

Thanks for all the replies. The static is with the fan off (or on). I removed the inserts and tried again. Same issue. It appears to be coming from the loco effects (little wheel icon on the audio section of the app). If I mute the effects sound, leaving the bell, whistle and crew talk up, it is silent. As soon as I bring up the effects a couple ticks the static appears. I've contacted Lionel and they will issue me a RA number, but it's at 6-8 weeks turnaround. Sheesh, I just got the thing last week! I'm attaching a screen shot of the audio settings when the static is prominent. Can somebody set their loco the same and let me know if they hear any static?  If it's normal then so be it. I'd hate to send it back if this is normal.

Thanks all!!

Bobby

Bobby,

I believe I have the same loco. Give me a few and I will let you know.

Bobby. I tested it and I do hear it as well. I honestly never noticed it before, but my overall volume needs to be cranked to hear it.

FWIW, since I read the forum daily and most every post, over the Holiday I know I saw one other engine with bad programming of sound that had to go back to Lionel. Wasn't the same model, but bad programming can, does, and has happened. You aren't wrong for checking and sadly, it does appear yours is one of those examples.

I almost wonder if some of the hobo sound cars had similar issues- there was a topic on that.

Thanks Guys, most people wouldn't notice this as they probably run with the volume(s) at max most of the time. I would include myself with that, but presently everybody in the house now works different shifts, and there's always somebody sleeping. Also one of my sons has a phone tech support job and works from his room during the day. So I'm always being "Shushed". I haven't been able to watch movies with my 7.1 surround system for a couple years now. So that's why I have to run trains as quietly as possible. I'm just getting back into the hobby and this was my first new locomotive in many years. Looks like I'll be going through sending it for repair. But oh, that 8 weeks is brutal! Today I came across a video another gentleman posted running the same locomotive. In the first few seconds it's sitting at idle I can hear what sounds like static, though maybe Lionel considers this "Steam Hiss". Don't know. Certainly he has his volume way up, whereas my volume is way down. Mine has a "crackling" sound at low volume. You can hear the difference when playing my video and his. I'll drop a link to it here. He's probably a forum member. Other than this issue I love the loco and plan to purchase another. Like many I have a very low budget for trains. What sold me on this was the 4 chuffs. Finally I could afford (just) something with 4 chuffs that wasn't Legacy ($$$)! I'm considering buying a second, but I'm waiting to see what the next catalog brings.

Again, thanks for the help!

Bobby

https://youtu.be/vDsHYHaPZtQ

There are steam sounds when it's idling after startup, but mine are dead quiet until startup.

I'm using a 1033 at 18VAC to power the loco. I've heard that these engines will also run on DC. Is that true? Would I use 18VDC? I did try a different 1033 xformer and still had the static. I thought maybe I'd try DC instead to see if it makes a difference with the static.

Thanks!

Bobby

It shouldn't make any difference between AC from a pure sine wave transformer and DC as far as static in the sounds.

Thx