Print Page - 55 ton 3 truck shay

Title: 55 ton 3 truck shay
Post by: dlb on September 26, 2012, 10:42:03 AM

Has anyone got information on installing a dcc decoder into this engine?
Wiring diagram G824X-IS008 shows the track / motor connections ok.
I can move them to the decoder.
Then it shows the wires in a 6 pin connector.
My guess is that I cut the front and rear light wires and connect them to the decoder.

Then what? B+ and smoke unit and cab light.
Can the smoke unit be left as is and run by manual switch?

I guess I can always trace the cab light wires and reroute them to the decoder.

Any suggestions would be welcome.

Thanks,
David

Title: Re: 55 ton 3 truck shay
Post by: tony9492 on September 26, 2012, 11:52:22 AM

Hope you get some good tips on your project, I'll be wiring my Shay soon. Did you look at IS007 also?

Title: Re: 55 ton 3 truck shay
Post by: dlb on September 26, 2012, 12:18:19 PM

Yes. IS007. Is the the analog wiring only.

David

Title: Re: 55 ton 3 truck shay
Post by: dlb on October 02, 2012, 10:01:20 PM

I have the decoder installed. The hard part was finding space to
put the decoder.

the 4 main decoder wires (2 track & 2 motor) just need to be
removed from the terminal block and attached to the decoder.
I needed to lengthen these wires.
this gives you control of the motor

then cut the blue b+ common, yellow rear led+ and white front +
wires from the 6 pin connector. attach them to your decoder.
this gives the decoder control of the front / rear lights

the 6 pin connecter can be pluged back in with the 2 purple and
brown smoke unit / cab light wires.
this leaves the cab light and smoke unit as originally installed.

David

Title: Re: 55 ton 3 truck shay
Post by: tony9492 on October 03, 2012, 12:44:01 PM

Thanks for the update David

Title: Re: 55 ton 3 truck shay
Post by: trainscotch on October 19, 2012, 10:06:06 AM

Are we talking the 20.3 Spectrum? I have one, for just over a year, with DCC and sound installed.
So how hard is it to replace the decoder? Where is it ?I think its in the tender.
This is so embarrasing, I put AC to the track, the loco shot off backward faster than it ever did; now the loco goes the direction it wants, sometimes herky-jerky, making any sounds it wants. Little if any control with the control buttons.
I called CS, they have yet to call me back.

All ideas welcome.
Thanks

Dennis

Title: Re: 55 ton 3 truck shay
Post by: trainscotch on October 21, 2012, 10:29:51 AM

Never mind. I contacted Customer Service. They are going to repair my mistake, for just $50.00. Gotta love great service. The decoder from Sounstraxx is $119.
Shipping was $30 to Philly, so Im still ahead $39.00 and I dont have to tear into the tender, and show how bad my soldering skills are.

Bachmann Online Forum

Discussion Boards => Large => Topic started by: dlb on September 26, 2012, 10:42:03 AM