[montclaire]

My father picked up a set of Erie Lackawanna F unit diesels but the horn/bell sounds are very faint. They are made by Williams. I have looked them over for a volume control but have found nothing. The other odd thing is that there is no way for the sound to escape - no cut outs or holes for the sound to pass through. Is this common with Williams stuff?

Link: http://www.westerndepot.com/product...17000?osCsid=62266098c28384953cf486ba5e582114

 

[T-Man]

My first question: Did it come with a technical manual? The part is listed at ehobbies and it is made by Bachmann and is out of production.
That is 0045 item but 0046 is in Stock.Go figure? For 34 bucks maybe I should get one. Excuse me 0046 is for steam. 0045 is diesel.

My first impression was to leave it on the rail under power. This recharges an on board battery ( if it has one). ( it does not)
Second, maybe it has a command volume control, without the manual I can't tell you.Volume may have a code of bells and horns.

It may be just a bad speaker.

It is a good sign that you have some sound.

If nothing works, try the Bachmann site. If no result visit e hobby and give a bad review.

 

[Boxcar Willie]

Check the wattage of your transformer. Williams needs at least 80 watts for sound but works better at 90 watts or better. There is a sound adjustment on their boards that I have seen pictures of on another forum. Never looked on mine. Its a real small dial that takes a small straight screw driver and its in a bad location from what I remember.
If its new and the transformer is not the problem Williams should fix it at no charge.

 

[montclaire]

I didn't think that it might have an on board battery, I just figured that it would have feed directly off of track power. We're using a new Lionel 80 watt transformer, btw. There is a very brief manual that came with the unit but it doesn't mention anything in regards to increasing volume or replacing an on board battery.

 

[Boxcar Willie]

Williams has no battery. The manuals don't talk about volume adjustments, I saw that on another forum.
I looked at one I have that isn't in an engine ( sound board ). I saw the adjuster. Its a silver half moon shape that has a slot for a screw driver. This board is when Trains America Studio's did William's boards. I had called them before they quit selling to the public about sound issues and they said to add a 4 amp capasitor before the board to increase volume. I bought the parts put as of yet haven't done the work.
Like I said before if its new send it back, Williams has a gret warrenty!

 

[montclaire]

The problem is that the shell has no provision for the sounds to escape. The system is working perfectly but is very muffled because of the shell.

 

[greg]

The sound is a little muffled when compared to others. Some of the older Lionel stuff is very loud, like in the starter sets. So compared to others I can see why you would say it is muffled.

Not sure of the speaker orientation. Probably would help to have some holes for the sound but I'm happy with mine as is. They are strong runners though.

 

[ogauge47]

I have the same problem with a recent Bachmann/Williams GP38. The problem lies with the wattage in the track. What transformer are you using?

By the way- Williams locomotives don't have onboard batteries.

 

[montclaire]

I'm using an 80w at the moment but we will be running a vintage ZW in the near future

 

[Big Ed]

I'm using an 80w at the moment but we will be running a vintage ZW in the near future

If the ZW don't make it blow, something else is wrong.

The reason for no speaker holes might be to get that muffled WHOOOO-WOO-WHOOOOO. You know what I mean? That in the far off distance sound.

I got one packed away and I think it is a Williams from the middle 60's that produces a sort of muffled sound. I sort of like it. I never tried to make it louder.
I thought that was how it was supposed to sound.:dunno:
Some of the newer horns, whistles and bells are just too loud I think.

How large is your layout?
Do you have any pictures posted?

 

[montclaire]

We're working on building a permanent layout, I hope to have it 99% there by November but the planning process is taking forever. If it's still too quiet after that I might have to break out the dremel.