Hello,

I have searched without understanding about tender swaps. I have a 4-6-0 first run spectrum loco. A failed sound decoder install (MRC plug & run) has fried the factory circut board. Can I use the small, 4 axle vandy tender with this locomotive? Switching boards is not an option because the board is fried, & is too big to fit into the vandy tender anyway.

Thanks for your time,
Vermont Bob
(just starting to get back into the hobby after more then a year's vacation from it all)

Walthers has code 83 bridge track, but I'm not sure if it comes in flex.

http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/948-886

these have a picture of the "V" ends that donaldson is talking about.

http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/948-899

Vermont Bob

I can't seem to find this NMRA train show flyer. I'm not sure where to look & google is not very helpful either.

Is there a link you can post to make the search a bit easier?

Thanks,
VermontBob

Having recieved a future update in a Micro-Mark catalog, I was genuinely surprised & definitly pleased to see Bachmann is coming out with a decent looking 2-6-0 Alco with full valve gear. I model the Boston & Maine, & a few other new England roads all mixed into a fictional version of the Central Vermont railway, era 1920 - 1940's mid-wartime.

Only thing is that I cannot find any more information or a bigger then a tiny photo of the preproduction model.

Having been recently put into wearing glasses, is the a place where there is more information on this delightful little addition to your line up, & when, pray tell, will it be released. I have a warm home for several of these little gems as soon as they come out.

thanks,
Vermont Bob

I have run through the search function repeatily, & I still cannot locate which post had the breakdown list of what tenders work with what locomotives. I have found several that work with the smaller locos, 4-4-0 to the 2-8-0. There's a few mentions of the 2-6-6-2 with the vanderbuilt tender, but still not answering the specific question I have, which is:

Will the DCC long haul 4 axle tender that came with the 2-10-2 work with the 2-6-6-2 (first run, no DCC) locomotive? I have a club meeting tonight & would like to run it tonight.

Thanks, & sorry if I missed the proper post,

VermontBob

with a Lenz decoder, I cut the C1 & C2 capacitors & left the LED1 capacitor in place & it runs just fine.

Vermont Bob

stupid question: What's an inductor look like?

also I count 4 capasiters on the bach-board. The lenz plug is very hard to get into the socket, so I wonder if it's too tight or broken inside.

VT BOb

I think the 4-6-0 has problems with the 8 pin plug on the circut board itself. I think what I need to do is to take out the board entirely, then hard wire the decoder into the unit itself.

Thanks,

Vermont BoB

in the 4-6-0: It can't read any CV values, because it can't read the decoder at all. I had cut capacitors C1 & C2.

In the 4-8-4: It runs forwards, backwards, & doesn't always want to stop. No capacitors are cut here because I don't know which to cut. Headlight is always on, but rear light never comes on.


Not sure how to read the CV values on the NCE system, currently reading the manual on how to do that.

Thanks,
Vermont Bob

Never bought Lenz before. Just wanted a simple, easy to install decoder, no sound.

Went to see Tony @ Tony's Trains. He gave me a pair of plug-n-play decoders part # 10231-01 - standard Lenz - Digital plus.

4-6-0 63'' wheeler:

1. pulled out the dummy plug.

2. Cut caps marked C1 & C2 as per Tony's instructions.

3. Placed in the Lenz decoder plug, lining up the the orange wire with the "1" marker on the circut board plug.

4. Connected the tender leads to the locomotive & placed on DCC track.

5. turned on my NCE system & ........nothing. It can't even find the damned thing.

Any one got suggestions or pointers on what I should be looking for?

I haven't even bothered to try putting one in the 4-8-4 yet, because this one is just not working right. This is very annoying & frankly is starting to make me think that turning my fleet into a more modern running fleet just isn't worth the time & frusterations that I keep running into

Thanks.

Vermont Bob

I have 2 images to share...one of the locos, & one of the Soundtraxx unit I have. I bought them from Tony's train (marketplace) I have 2 decoders, & one does nothing but idle, & I do not have any paperwork on them





I hope these load right

Your wiring idea seems to make alot of sense. I'm going to give it a try tonight.

Vermont Bob

I know this is a bachmann-only type forum, but I have searched bing, google, yahoo, & altavista search engines, &have yet to come up with ANY plans, photos, instructions on how to install a Soundtraxx EMD 567 decoder into an Athearn GP9.

Does anyone know where I can find some instructions on how to do this, because I don't want to fry or screw up this fun sounding decoder with a wrongly soldered wire.

Thanks,
Vermont Bob

the crackling is a normal sound I've found. IT's ''spitting'' through the small heater coil. Once it stops spitting, it'll smoke quite nicely.

If you run it for long periods without any fluid in it, it will melt the smokestack. The smoke unit creates smoke by heating the smoke fluid. The fluid seems to act like a cooling gel for the unit, but when run dry, it'll heat up fast

The only other thing I can think of about the smoke units is that you will need to clean the wheels & track alot more often, as the smoke gives everything an oily residue that collects all kinds of grime FAST.

Vermont Bob

the motor is the entire tender. I soaked the entire thing in rubbing alcohol to cut away any hardened grease, dirt, etc. I haven't re-lubed it yet. Looking at your photo, then at the little unit here, I still cannot figure out how it comes apart. I don't want to yank or pull on something that'll snap it.

There's 2 tiny flatheaded (phillips cut) screws on one end, & 2 6-sided nuts on the other. The screws seem to go into the motor (bearing?) housing. The 2 nuts (on both sides of the unit) don't look like they move, or are supposed to move.

I'll try to get some pictures of the little unit as the housing appears to be quite different.

Thanks,
Vermont Bob

Does anyone have the exploded diagrams for the engine/motor part? I got one at a train show & it doesn't run, but I have a feeling I might be able to repair it, if I could get it apart. But never having had one like this before, I don't want to break it.

Vermont Bob