Speed matching scale trains locos

[ek2000]

I have 2 scale trains GEVOs one from run 1 and other from run 3. I also have a dash 9 from run 2. They run at different speeds even if I enter the same values for CV 2, 6 and 5. Has anyone figured out the CVS that work for these? Or are all locos different and trial & error the only way? These are N scale, bu the way. Thanks in advance !

[Steveruger45]

Not every loco, even of the same make and type will run exactly the same as another.
Cv2 6 and 5 will have to be set per loco to a desired speed. I set mine up with a speedometer to 1 smph 35 smph and 70 smph.  But if you don’t have one of those pick the loco you like the best for speed cvs and match each other loco to it by trial and error cv adjustments. A loop of track is useful to do this.

[RBrodzinsky]

Are these all with ESU decoders in them? If yes, then it is easier to use the speed table rather than 3 pt, as I describe below

1) Make sure all have been “auto tuned” using the CV54 process: place loco on track, with an empty 6 feet of track in front of it. Turn off all functions (lights, sound, everything). Use program on main to set CV54=0. Exit program on main and press F1. Loco will take off like a bat out of hell for 4 to 6 feet, then come to a stop with bell ringing. Turn off F1.

2) set the speed table (CVs 67 to 95) to the speed curve you want (I tend to default to linear) in each loco.

3) set CV2 to either 2 or 3 in each loco. Test speed step 1 crawl to make sure it moves smoothly. If it is jerky, bump CV52 up to a value between 15 and 30 until it runs nice and smooth.

4) set CV5 in all the locos to 255. Run each loco at max throttle to determine which is the slowest.

5) take the slowest and adjust CV5 downwards until it is running at the speed you want as maximum for the three.

6) now set the next slowest’s CV5 to the same. Run the two at maximum, and decrease CV5 in the loco until it is running at the same speed as the loco in step 2

7) repeat step 6 with the remaining loco.

This gets even easier if you have a speedometer. Then, with the same curve in the speed table, all you have to do is adjust the max speed on each loco

[ek2000]

Thank you Steve and Rick.

Yes, all 3 have factory ESU loksound although the run 1 GEVO may not be the Esu V5. I will try your detailed steps to see if they run close to each other. I did try the cv 54 = 0 for the 3 but did not try reducing cv 5. Will check the step by step instructions out.

For speed table 67 to 95, is there any place I can refer to for the values that correspond to linear?

[jagged ben]

In my experience pretty much all locomotives have minor differences, and trial and error is ultimately needed.  I find it easiest to do the programming in ops mode.  (But read up on it first.)     I'm  slowly setting all my locos to match scale mph so I have a standard that's independent of any particular one.

[RBrodzinsky]

Thank you Steve and Rick.

Yes, all 3 have factory ESU loksound although the run 1 GEVO may not be the Esu V5. I will try your detailed steps to see if they run close to each other. I did try the cv 54 = 0 for the 3 but did not try reducing cv 5. Will check the step by step instructions out.

For speed table 67 to 95, is there any place I can refer to for the values that correspond to linear?

Here is a linear speed table  curve
CV 067 = 001
CV 068 = 009
CV 069 = 018
CV 070 = 028
CV 071 = 037
CV 072 = 047
CV 073 = 056
CV 074 = 066
CV 075 = 075
CV 076 = 085
CV 077 = 094
CV 078 = 103
CV 079 = 113
CV 080 = 122
CV 081 = 132
CV 082 = 141
CV 083 = 151
CV 084 = 160
CV 085 = 170
CV 086 = 179
CV 087 = 188
CV 088 = 198
CV 089 = 207
CV 090 = 217
CV 091 = 226
CV 092 = 236
CV 093 = 245
CV 094 = 255