I'm attempting my first DC to DCC conversion and it's in a recently purchased, brand new Bachmann 4-6-2 Light Pacific steam locomotive. The locomotive is DCC ready, according to the Bachmann box. What kind of decoder should I buy--and where. Any hints for removing the locomotive shell also appreciated.
Greg in Arizona
It's not really "ready". That is a misleading statement. You have to choose the correct speakers and install them and solder leads to them. You may or may not need a wiring harness.
There are multiple decoders available that would work, but the Bach Man's house isn't the place to discuss other brands of products besides his. I have my own preferences and have had professionals install DCC and at least 30 locomotives. If you want to hear about it in detail, send me a PM.
YouTube is certainly a place to find numerous videos to help you.
You can call the service department at any of the number of decoder manufacturers to get help also.
I haven't looked, but there's probably a parts diagram for this engine of the Bachmann online store that would help you disassemble things. However, you are taking the tender apart, not the engine, for decoder installation.
If you are just going with a non-Sound decoder you just need remove the tender shell by removing the one screw next to front truck, The shell has to tabs that hold the back half on the tender frame. The Bachmann online store says it has the 8-pin socket. So you will just need a decoder of choice and an 8 Pin NMRA harness. You can get decoders made for 8 pin.
If you plain to go with a sound decoder. As mentioned above you will need to solder the speaker leads to the speaker. The speaker mounts under the circuit board. You just remove the screws hold the board down move it aside and mount the speaker cone down. (I use the SoundTraxx gaskets to stick the speaker in place). Solder speaker wire leads to speaker. Put board back in place. The attach decoder to 8 pin plug.
The one Bachmann 4-6-2 I own. I replaced the factor installed Sound value decoder with a TSU-BH2. Then installed the Sound value decoder in a Bachmann 2-8-2. But I do a lot of fine soldering.