Can you put a decoder in a old time 4-4-0 loc.?
Quote from: firetrain on January 16, 2013, 09:05:32 AM
Can you put a decoder in a old time 4-4-0 loc.?
Yes. No room for sound though.
I did this about six years ago. Piece of cake.
Bachmann 4-4-0
Mantua 4-4-0
IHC 4-4-0\
(http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l267/richg1998/Tender%20drive/4-4-0mods.jpg)
Rich
thanks which decoder did you use?
Quote from: firetrain on January 16, 2013, 10:30:00 AM
thanks which decoder did you use?
At the time, I used a Lenz N scale decoder not made any more.
No light for the loco. THat would be more work. At the time, locos do not have lights on during the day.
Today, a DZ125 decoder would work quite well as it is about the size of a dime.
A TCS decoder is quite small and would work. Some here will recommend the part number. It is about the same size as the DZ125.
All decoders come with instructions if you have not done this before.
Rich
Both the Mantua General and the Bachmann have replacement can motors. The can motor for the Bachmann is out of an old PC CD drive. These small tender drive locos use a motor with 1.5mm diameter shaft.
You can find lot of these motors on ebay.
Disconnect the two motor wires going to the pickups.
Modify the trucks for all wheel pickup.
http://www.55n3.org/cars/tender_wipers/
http://www.pacificcoastairlinerr.com/bachmann_4-4-0/wipers/
http://www.pacificcoastairlinerr.com/1879/
Rich