Running Bear's December 2025 Coffee Shop

[Kusojiji]

I forget, was the hum coming from the speaker or heard from the back?

Also, if you turn the dials, do they make a crunching, snap crackle pop sound come out of the speaker?

 

[RhB Michael]

Good morning gang!

29° under cloudy skies with a high expected of 40°. However, when I look at the hourly breakdown of temps for the entire 24 hours fan, there’s a problem. The highest I see any particular hourly temp is only 35. Where did they get 40?

I’ll never understand how weather forecasters can keep their job. If I was wrong that many times I’d be on the street.

BBL

It has to be one of the great mysteries of life. I could never understand that employment concept either.

Guten Morgen alles! It is 29°F here and cloudy. Snow is expected well north of here later today. We might get a flake by Saturday, so the weather flakes tell me.

Only laundry on the agenda for today. Might run trains, but spent four hours doing that yesterday, so probably not. I do have a locomotive to repair that caught its pantograph on a tunnel entrance yesterday and ripped it from the shell, so there's that to work on.

While the trains were running yesterday, I repaired a swing-roof hopper that had been sitting on the bench for nearly two years after taking a nose dive off of an open elevated section of track due to my stupidity and impatience. It's rolling well and stays coupled, but it's missing the rear gaurd rails around the end of the platform and it's missing three out of four buffers. I'll have to check my parts box and see what I can come up with for it.

Have a great day folks. Hope everything is going well for you Willie. Let us know.

Servus!

 

[RhB Michael]

 

[troyphoto]

Action Plan: Start with the simple isolation steps (unplugging sources, checking power).

Did that. the hum persists even from a cold start up and NO audio sources attached to the sub

If the groan persists after these, the issue is likely internal to the subwoofer, suggesting repair or replacement is needed.

The red part is what I need help on.

 

[troyphoto]

I forget, was the hum coming from the speaker or heard from the back?

Also, if you turn the dials, do they make a crunching, snap crackle pop sound come out of the speaker?

I don't know.... that would have involved getting on the floor and pushing it around to find what part of the box was making the noise. This is a down-firing sub, so it will take manipulation to isolate it.

Now that it's on the work bench, let me plug it in again and replicate the issue

 

[Kusojiji]

Mine has a hum coming from outside the box, near the area of the transformer. It also has a hum coming from the speaker and crackles when i turn the volume knob. So two issues. The crackling sound from moving the volume knob is due to oxidation in the potentiometer. I haven't tried using electrical contact cleaner on it yet.

 

[Patrick]

Morning all,

First, I'd like to wish Willie good luck and prayers for a successful operation.

Secondly, I'd like to thank Marlin39 for getting me off track this morning with the Big Boy song and subsequent Youtube pop up on the C&O H8 Alleghany. It was one of the suggested videos that followed as that site is want to do.

Thirdly, it's my Friday and we've a middle school basketball game to attend this evening as the oldest granddaughter is cheering. Her school is large enough that cheer is it's own "sport", and you commit to that one only. Unlike the other middle school granddaughter is on all the teams and cheer.

Currently, partly cloudy and 35° with an expected high later of 65°.

 

[TLOC]

It has been a while again since I turned on the desktop. My old inkjet printer died. I hadn't used it in so long that the ink apparently dried up and the jets couldn't be cleaned. I picked up a laser printer as the toner shouldn't dry up and I only need black and white. I was unable to get it to operate so I called my son who happens to be a computer geek and it only took him a few minutes to get it operating.

I need the printer to scan forms for financial assistance from the hospitals in Kalispell and Libby as well as the veteran's administration.

chadbag - I had only been to Benihanas once in the early '70's while I was living in Florida. Ended up winning a chop stick eating contest that I had no idea that was going on. I was given lessons while visiting a friend in Hiroshima while my ship was in Yokosuka. Almost starved to death until I had a couple of lessons. The food was OK and we went there because the couple we were with wanted to try it.

Todd - I have a magnetron magnet hanging on the side of my tool box that I used in Florida to help a friend recover his outboard motor he lost. You could do chin ups if you ran a broomstick between a couple of then on the overhead beams on board ship. If you have Digitrax, you can operate DC locomotives on DCC. Did that a number of times on my model railroad club on Livingston.

Kevin - The only thing about the Outback Steakhouse is the name. Only ate there twice. The first time was so bad that I wrote a review about the meal. They sent a gift certificate and we tried it again. Same results.

All of the talk about beer is interesting. While in the Navy and traveling to 63 countries I have had more beer brands that I can count
Hard to pick a single favorite, but for me the worst was Peroni made in Italy. External use only, head lice, crabs and such. Haven't had a soda pop in probably 20 years. I like my Snapple.

Willie - That's pretty similar to the way I painted figures that were unpainted. Kept a number of them in a container in the corner of the workbench and whenever I used a different color paint, a few more figures got painter. Sometimes talking with doctors can be a pain, but I will have to thank my doctor as she saw something she didn't like which ended up being lung cancer and withing 2 months the surgery was done. Didn't really care for the chest tube, but I guess it's better than the alternative. I have a phone conference Friday to get set up with a few chemo sessions that I may have to take. Thankfully it is a phone conference as I really don't care for the drive to Kalispell in the winter.

TomO - That's an outstanding job on that bridge. Well done.

Guess I'll dig into the archives and post a few photos before I leave. View attachment 250912View attachment 250913View attachment 250914View attachment 250915View attachment 250916View attachment 250917View attachment 250918View attachment 250919View attachment 250920View attachment 250921

Gotta go, LATER

Thanks Chet on the bridge comment. It was a fun build. Posting it here on the forum kept me focused

 

[RhB Michael]

Did that. the hum persists even from a cold start up and NO audio sources attached to the sub

The red part is what I need help on.

It's likely the filter cap for the power supply transformer is bad. You'll have to pull it to check it, but filter caps are cheap, and as long as it's out I would just replace it. There may be more than one, and a schematic would be helpful.

In addition, the coupling cap(s) might be bad as well. It might be that medium sized cap lying on its side with what looks like its innards leaking onto the circuit board.

 

[TLOC]

Good Evening All. It's still clear and 53° outside. While it might drop down to the mid-30's tonight, it's back to upper 60's tomorrow.

The pre-op for tomorrow's surgery went as expected and they confirmed that I need to be at the hospital at 6:30 for the 8:00 surgery, so I won't be seeing any of you early tomorrow. While I never like encounters with hospital people or hospitals themselves, I am praying for positive results. They'll be shaving my privates and I don't know whether I should ask for heart-shaped or butterfly? Supposed to be released in the late afternoon depending on the doctor's skill and success. My cardiologist recommended him.

Heard some noises a couple of hours ago out by my tornado-demolished barn, just after the sun set but before it got too dark. So I went out there to investigate and found 2 fully grown bobcats, each with a large tasty field rat hanging from their jaws. I suspect that there were some young ones nearby. They did run into the high grass of my hayfield when they saw me. I retreated even though I knew that they wouldn't be aggressive towards me unless I threatened them or their young ones. Good to see them doing their job out there.

So long for now, I'll check in when I get home.

Best to you Willie. If I remember correctly when they start shaving they don’t ask how you want it. Will they net off your beard or cut it down, that’s what you need to be asking?

 

[Bruette]

Here's the subwoofer. All the help figuring this out is appreciated.

A hum after warm-up is almost certainly due to failing capacitors or a stressed power transformer.

Capacitor Aging: Electrolytic capacitors in the power supply often dry out, causing hum after warm-up.

Transformer Stress: The internal transformer can buzz or hum when insulation breaks down.

I'm guessing the subwoofer is from the late 90s- early 2000s?

Edit - I'm late and I didn't see the Lokfuhrer already replied

 

[troyphoto]

Mine has a hum coming from outside the box, near the area of the transformer. It also has a hum coming from the speaker and crackles when i turn the volume knob. So two issues. The crackling sound from moving the volume knob is due to oxidation in the potentiometer. I haven't tried using electrical contact cleaner on it yet.

Mine took 22 minutes after I remembered to turn the power on. The hum is coming from the speaker.

No crackles from rotating the knobs.

 

[Bruette]

Mine took 22 minutes after I remembered to turn the power on. The hum is coming from the speaker.

No crackles from rotating the knobs.

Filter capacitors failing: The big electrolytic capacitors in the power supply are supposed to smooth out the rectified AC. When they dry out or leak, residual 60 Hz (or 120 Hz) ripple gets fed straight into the audio path, producing that deep hum.
DC offset leaking to the driver: A bad coupling capacitor or transistor can let DC drift into the woofer, causing a steady low-frequency “groan.”
Thermal drift: Since the hum appears after ~10 minutes, heat is stressing a component until it goes out of spec.

Considering the age ~20years? I'd say the capacitors have dried out.

 

[TLOC]

Good morning Crew and our about to be shaved SantaFeWillie…

I had to include the Santa Fe part as Willie alone in that sentence, well it wasn’t right!

1st Bobcat I saw was in Cave Creek, Arizona while playing golf on one of the courses with my brother at Desert Mountain. My brother yelled at me not to move. As I turned to look of course, a bobcat walked maybe 10 yards behind me. That froze me. It looked at me and just kept going. Brother said that one has never bothered anyone before. Saw it again a few days later carrying some animal in its mouth

Today, I need to throw some more ice melt on the sidewalks. Can’t have a dog walker fall on the property!

The son informed his sister he is coming up for Christmas. Terry is very happy.

The fund raising dinner last night was ok. Not anywhere like a normal fund raiser. This was Go to the restaurant, order, eat and pay and the restaurant donates 10% to the cause that honestly I never asked what it was. It was at a restaurant Terry and I have threatened to go to but never ended up getting there. We will give it another shot but it wasn’t anything thrilling that makes us ‘ needing” to go back. No speeches, it was a good fund raiser

I started graphing out the power plant walls for my friend’s layout. I might knock this one out fairly quickly. I don’t have any distractions to steer me off course. I do have to clean the train room though. The benches are both messy again but my paint booth area is truly a disaster. The bridge project used lots of paint so an inventory is needed

Off to the train room.
Be well

 

[troyphoto]

It's likely the filter cap for the power supply transformer is bad. You'll have to pull it to check it, but filter caps are cheap, and as long as it's out I would just replace it. There may be more than one, and a schematic would be helpful.

In addition, the coupling cap(s) might be bad as well. It might be that medium sized cap lying on its side with what looks like its innards leaking onto the circuit board.

Ahhhhh....

This is starting to sound like it will become "Troy letting the magic blue smoke escape" from the various parts of the circuitry if I try a home repair.

Fortunately, I saw this little beauty from Audorama for $189

I ordered it through Amazon so they can pay the shipping for me. Should be here on Monday.

If it sounds like the old one isn't something I want to try to not let the blue smoke out of, I've got a buddy in Indy who likes to refresh old audio gear. I'll pass it to him.

 

[troyphoto]

And here's your Santa funny for today. This one is for all of you golfers.

 

[Bruette]

I ordered it through Amazon so they can pay the shipping for me. Should be here on Monday

If it sounds like the old one isn't something I want to try to not let the blue smoke out of, I've got a buddy in Indy who likes to refresh old audio gear. I'll pass it to him.

A brilliant move!

 

[shortwrench]

Good Evening All. It's still clear and 53° outside. While it might drop down to the mid-30's tonight, it's back to upper 60's tomorrow.

The pre-op for tomorrow's surgery went as expected and they confirmed that I need to be at the hospital at 6:30 for the 8:00 surgery, so I won't be seeing any of you early tomorrow. While I never like encounters with hospital people or hospitals themselves, I am praying for positive results. They'll be shaving my privates and I don't know whether I should ask for heart-shaped or butterfly? Supposed to be released in the late afternoon depending on the doctor's skill and success. My cardiologist recommended him.

Heard some noises a couple of hours ago out by my tornado-demolished barn, just after the sun set but before it got too dark. So I went out there to investigate and found 2 fully grown bobcats, each with a large tasty field rat hanging from their jaws. I suspect that there were some young ones nearby. They did run into the high grass of my hayfield when they saw me. I retreated even though I knew that they wouldn't be aggressive towards me unless I threatened them or their young ones. Good to see them doing their job out there.

So long for now, I'll check in when I get home.

Make sure you don't sneeze while you're being shaved. Good luck.

 

[ctclibby]

Good Morning All!

47F @ HH again.. Guessers say 48F later. Hmmm, almost there now. Night lows still above 34F now until Wednesday.

Think that I hear rocks rolling down the creek at the back of our property and the water is making mucho noise. Too dark right now to walk out and see the volume and what ever else. Should wake Maria as she hears better than I, even with my aids in. There is a 'unprotected' ~75ft high bank along the road and creek ( Flower Creek road/creek ) and with all the wet, we usually hear rocks and trees breaking away. Not yet though. Dog Jake is going nuts hearing stuff - growling, ducking and such.

Troy Don't know if you read my earlier post about power supplies. Turn it on with nothing connected ( except power of course ). Put your finger on that transformer. If it is causing the hummmm you should here a slight freq change with your finger on it and possibly feel the hum. See that big cap next to it? Probably is the cause. That brown glue/glob is pretty much usual, don't worry about that. Exacto knife to break that plug loose if needed. Don't stab yourself. Others have posted about the 'scratch' and 'pop' when rotating the controls. You can use CRC Electronic cleaner, or WD40 sprayed in the things - With power off and wait for a bit for everything to discharge. Spray, then crank them back and forth a couple of times.

Chet know I can run DC stuff on DCC but do not want to. I currently have 25 DCC Diesel engines with 2 more boxes to go through. So, the plan is to 'cull' some of the older stuff: pull the body, to see if there is enough room for a decoder only, then decide if it is a keeper or not. Steam is easier, tender can hold decoder. Don't really care about sound. I have enough units with it installed to scratch that itch if needed.

TLOC I don't remember what type of power plant you are going to create. GN had a hydro powered generator in Wenatchee with some sort of power building in Skykomish of which I think I have pix somewhere. That was for the electrified trackage going through the Cascade Tunnel. I also have pix of 'Rock Island Dam' east of Wenatchee if interested. Yes, bridges have rust - green/brown mold too...

If interested, I have Circuitron Tortiose machines that I am going to post in 'For Sale'. 2 boxes of 12 NiB.

L8r

 

[Bill Tidler Jr.]

Ahhhhh....

This is starting to sound like it will become "Troy letting the magic blue smoke escape" from the various parts of the circuitry if I try a home repair.

Fortunately, I saw this little beauty from Audorama for $189
View attachment 250995

I ordered it through Amazon so they can pay the shipping for me. Should be here on Monday.

If it sounds like the old one isn't something I want to try to not let the blue smoke out of, I've got a buddy in Indy who likes to refresh old audio gear. I'll pass it to him.

Good move! I think you have made the right decision.