Thank you.  No.  That's next.  I thought if someone knew ahead of that, I'd save parts removal.  It's not that I can't disassemble things, but the dry screws and how tight Bachmann installs them always leaves the possibility of cracking something.  Once out, a little care and lube, they're better later.  (Which reminds me, I wonder what kind of screw lube everyone uses, if any?  I use a tiny drop of something plactic compatible. 

Subject says it all, mostly.  I have one of the earliest Shays and am just rebuilding it.  If it has chuff contacts anywhere I haven't found them yet.  Anyone know?  Thanks, Dennis

Thanks everyone.  Found loose connector.  My 2-6-6-2 DOES have DCC decoder.  Off and running.  Will think about sound cards next.
Merry Christmas, Dennis

Oh.  Swell.  Haven't opened up my 2-6-6-2 yet, but if it's 21 pin, it might not be worth making it DCC.  I have no idea where to get an adapter cable to convert 21 to 8.  Or, what decoder to buy should I even want to put any more money in it.

Thanks.  Then it's worth a try.  I have a friend that always calls decoders, "chips," and I guess I picked up the term.  I would think all this would have to be NMRA compliment anyway.

I'm writing this here because I see very little traffic on the DCC forum.  A few years ago when I got my first Bachmann On30 Porter and 2TShay I later got the cheap B'mann E-Z Command DCC set.  Cheap is right, but it works and introduced me to DCC.  Shortly after that I bought 3 little Bachmann DCC chips with pigtails and tiny 8-pin connectors.  Never used them.  New in bag.  Will they plug into my 2TShay, Climax and, most especially, my recent 2-6-6-2 that apparently has NO DCC on board?  (One of the TrainWorld $99 buys)  Thought I'd ask experts here before I tear into the locomotives and make a mistake.
Mainly wondering if I can use or have to throw away these 3 new chips.  i.e., what are they good for currently?
Thanks, Dennis

Good information all;  thank you.  While HO is now too small for me to work with, I still model in larger scales.  I have an interest in vintage HO, however, and have some of that around.  (The old Varney and Mantua things I could not afford when I was young)  I do have a couple of Kato drive locomotives and a few Athern road switchers that run very well.  I'll take a couple over to my Uncle with some extra track.  Thanks to all of you, I can now see that I think his, "power pack," is likely to have NO AC output at all.  I have an idle accessory power pack that will work fine.  He'll just need to 110V AC outlets handy.  I have a few cars with KD couplers which I think I heard will work with Bachmann's now-common clones.  At least we're past NMRA couplers these days.  Maybe I'll dig up an old MRC 2400 power pack, etc., which would also solve a lot of problems.  But I have no source locally.
Dennis

OK, I'm mostly On30 and G, but my family gave my 90 year old favorite Uncle a Bachmann HO Chattanooga Train set for Father's Day and he's having trouble wiring in switches.  He is 300 miles from me but I'm going there in 2 weeks.  I have a left-over hand full of BMn E-Z track sections, and I'll take them along with another locomotive to give him.  My Cousin there said on the 'phone he got my Uncle 2 electric switches, (turnouts), but can't get them to work electrically.  I presume the low-end power pack has 16V AC for accessories, but cannot confirm.  Also don't know if he has push-buttons, etc. 

Looking for tips as to what I should round up and take with me besides wire, track sections, etc.  Is the Chattanooga set even capable of handling turnouts?

Thoughts appreciated,
Dennis

Anyone have a price for a pair of new metal trucks?   ......before I call Bachmann and can't afford them,  ....
Dennis