I purchased 4 of the NS units. All of them ran fairly well at speed step 1, but there was a very slight, but noticeable stutter. The fix is simple. First, I would NOT use the ESU auto BEMF on these units by setting CV54 to zero and going through that routine. If you do that, things will be far worse. 🙂 Instead, there's an error in the default programming of CV52 or BEMF 'K' Slow. It should be set higher than CV54 by 5-10. CV54 was set to 35 and CV52 to 20. It should have a higher value. Just change CV52 to something north of 35 (by 5-10) and things will s*m*o*o*t*h out nicely. In my case, I'm setting them to 40. Speed step 1 is now smooth as butter.
Love the Review. Miner are in the mail as well. I always run them for 2 or 3 hours forward and reverse before i set any CV's. some time there is just a little flash on the gears that needs to be worn off. If you haven't given them a good run already try that. 50% speed and 100% speed, just let them run.
What's the odds? I received mine yesterday also and one in 'CSX' and one 'NS'. Mine are in DC and they both run smooth even at first throttle. Great looking and if there is one thing I would like to see some more weight to them. Maybe it's me but they seem a bit light. Got a 'N&W' one coming. Enjoy !😢
Hmmm. I think this review would definitely help in making a purchasing decision. Do you have a comparison between these units and the Intermountain SD40-2?
I was thinking the same thing. Im skeptical to buy any SD40s because of that. Looks like a big gap between the body and the trucks on IM models. These don't look like that though.
Hi Scott , very good review on these units and the feedback on what you can do to improve them. How you yours so quick I want get mine till tomorrow L O L . I’m getting the Southern one and I’m in NC. Very nice looking model. Thanks for sharing. 😎😎 👍
@@NSSCOTTTEAGUE I'm guessing you have to tape the top of the rail to keep the paint off, but is it hard to get the paint under the tape to the sides of the rail?
Did CSX put air starters on these rebuilds? It sure sounds like that's what its starting with. I wouldn't think SC would accidentally put a SD70M-2, or ACe sound file in the starting sequence
After an hour and a half of tweaking CVs', I've yet to find a solution that unlocks annoyance-free operation from speed step 1 through 5. The only thing that smoothed mine out a bit was changing CV2 from a value of 3 to 4. Sorry to hear you are having issues with yours, as well. At least they're pretty to look at!
I am thinking about getting a NS unit myself in dcc. I don't like that jerk , they are to nice and cost a good bit. My Kato sd 40-2 with tsunami sound decoders are smooth ass hell. . Then some of my Atlas are about the same. Good review and I may still get the NS unit.
I have 4 in the mail. ST hasn't blackened the copper pickup on several of recent n-scale locos. I agree they should do that for what you pay. My other problem is the non NMRA approved E24 plug-in for the decoder. ESU is the only one so far to offer it. So you have no choice for a decoder other the ESU as of now. Hope to have a E24 brake-out board out soon to be able to work around it. THANKS FOR THE VIDEO!!!
I purchased 4 of the NS units. All of them ran fairly well at speed step 1, but there was a very slight, but noticeable stutter. The fix is simple. First, I would NOT use the ESU auto BEMF on these units by setting CV54 to zero and going through that routine. If you do that, things will be far worse. 🙂 Instead, there's an error in the default programming of CV52 or BEMF 'K' Slow. It should be set higher than CV54 by 5-10. CV54 was set to 35 and CV52 to 20. It should have a higher value. Just change CV52 to something north of 35 (by 5-10) and things will s*m*o*o*t*h out nicely. In my case, I'm setting them to 40. Speed step 1 is now smooth as butter.
I've got to try that CV52 trick!
Before you change CV’s these locomotives have to be broken in for about 2 to 4 hours and all the jerkiness almost completely goes away.
Yep
Great video , thanks , would like to see your comments about the jerkiness after you run them a couple of hours just to see if it improved.
Love the Review. Miner are in the mail as well. I always run them for 2 or 3 hours forward and reverse before i set any CV's. some time there is just a little flash on the gears that needs to be worn off. If you haven't given them a good run already try that. 50% speed and 100% speed, just let them run.
Good to see do another review its been awhile, both of my NS units ran good. Even though my track was a little dirty.
What's the odds? I received mine yesterday also and one in 'CSX' and one 'NS'. Mine are in DC and they both run smooth even at first throttle. Great looking and if there is one thing I would like to see some more weight to them. Maybe it's me but they seem a bit light. Got a 'N&W' one coming. Enjoy !😢
Hmmm. I think this review would definitely help in making a purchasing decision. Do you have a comparison between these units and the Intermountain SD40-2?
I would have to pick these over Intermountain. The Intermountain SD40-2s set to high off the frame.
I was thinking the same thing. Im skeptical to buy any SD40s because of that. Looks like a big gap between the body and the trucks on IM models. These don't look like that though.
The csx an sd 40 dash three?
For those wondering…the ESU factory file equivalent is S0845. It sounds insane!!
Hi Scott , very good review on these units and the feedback on what you can do to improve them. How you yours so quick I want get mine till tomorrow L O L . I’m getting the Southern one and I’m in NC. Very nice looking model. Thanks for sharing. 😎😎 👍
very nice video thx for sharing.😊😊👍👍
Just came across your channel, just subscribed. I have seen you at the Bluefield Show when they had them.
What color and paint did you use to color your rails?
Camo spray paint. The medium brown
@@NSSCOTTTEAGUE I'm guessing you have to tape the top of the rail to keep the paint off, but is it hard to get the paint under the tape to the sides of the rail?
@@milepost4846 You tape nothing. Spray the all the rail.
Hello just wondering if scaletrains sd40-2 match up with kato sd40-2?
What do you mean? Running wise?
@@NSSCOTTTEAGUE Yes plus running in an consist BLI sd40-2 Highhood sat higher on the trucks than Kato Highhoods
Did CSX put air starters on these rebuilds? It sure sounds like that's what its starting with. I wouldn't think SC would accidentally put a SD70M-2, or ACe sound file in the starting sequence
Don't know
Can you do horn request (tuning wise) like a gri rail 501?
After an hour and a half of tweaking CVs', I've yet to find a solution that unlocks annoyance-free operation from speed step 1 through 5. The only thing that smoothed mine out a bit was changing CV2 from a value of 3 to 4. Sorry to hear you are having issues with yours, as well. At least they're pretty to look at!
I want them pretty when their running
You aren’t kidding, they should when they’re $250 a piece.
I am thinking about getting a NS unit myself in dcc. I don't like that jerk , they are to nice and cost a good bit. My Kato sd 40-2 with tsunami sound decoders are smooth ass hell. . Then some of my Atlas are about the same. Good review and I may still get the NS unit.
Can't beat a good Kato runner.
It looks like CSX 4035 is an SD40-3 instead of an SD40-2.They are really nice locos and sound great.
I have 4 in the mail. ST hasn't blackened the copper pickup on several of recent n-scale locos. I agree they should do that for what you pay. My other problem is the non NMRA approved E24 plug-in for the decoder. ESU is the only one so far to offer it. So you have no choice for a decoder other the ESU as of now. Hope to have a E24 brake-out board out soon to be able to work around it. THANKS FOR THE VIDEO!!!
Where did you get the atlas K5LA?
Called Atlas
This is the third review I’ve seen on these and not one of them has run smoothly. I’ll keep my money!
Did you talk to Support before you made a video? To resolve any of your issues maybe you should learn more about how the decoder is used
This isn't my first rodeo.
Just want it to be fair. Maybe you could do a follow up.