Steve,
That is exactly the same info/procedure I found. This is the same process to use in all of the Spectrum split frame loco's. Not much work, but then again, with the popularity of the newer and more expensive units, it's easy to see that many just want to drop a load of cash for something that is ready to go as is than to actually work on something. I don't think paying double or triple the price just because a piece is DCC ready is worth it if that is the only difference. I haven't noticed any other significant changes between my DCC ready units and these older ones.
It’s a shame so many modelers put the Bachmann H16-44s into the too hard basket when it comes to decoders. Not so long ago I installed NCE D13SR decoders into 5 of my small fleet.
I hard wired (soldered) the power leads (Red & Black) to the truck pick-ups via a wire I used to connect the front & rear wipers and cut off the part of the wiper that connects to the frame.
I isolated the motor by cutting off part of the wiper that connects to the frame and soldering the orange & grey wires to the remaining bit on the motor then wrapped some insulation tape around the motor contacts for good measure.
For the head lights I cut the middle out of the original light boards de soldering and removing the pick-ups and leaving the mounting holes in the outer pieces so they could still be mounted in their original positions with the original bulbs and wired them with 270 ohm resistors (I don’t like the lights too bright especially on older locos). I put the resistors on the blue wires to keep a uniformed practice with other locos that use LEDs.
I used double sided foam tape to attach the decoder to the top of the frame and positioned it to fit in the space left from cutting the middle out of the original board.
These locos were my first attempt at fitting decoders to any loco, I did heaps of research online to figure out how it was done so this may or may not be the best way to do it but it worked for me and may give some ideas to anyone wanting to give it a go.
Hope this helps someone.
Steve
You could also check out Train control systems web site. WWW.TCSDCC.com.
They have pictures of instals that are very helpful.
I pray every day I break even, Cause I can really use the money!
I started with nothing and still have most of it left!
Older Bachmann Spectrum diesels require total disassembly to install a decoder because they were not DCC ready in any respect. The motor has wipers that contact the two frame halves for electrical pickup. These wipers must be isolated from the frame halves, and that requires that the frame be taken apart to get to them so the decoder's gray and orange wires can be soldered to the contacts. You are then faced with the problem of finding a way to connect the decoder's black and red wires to the frame halves.
Sometimes you're better off to just forget about putting a decoder into these old engines and purchase a new one.
http://www.ncedcc.com/
Go to products/locomotive decoders.(click through a couple pages to get to HO decoders) They have the Bachman DCC replacement boards. I don't think they have specific Spectrum units. You could call and ask for your application.
I have tried numerous searches, plus consulted the web, all to no avail. What DCC Decoders are designed for Bachmann Spectrum Diesels? I removed the shell on one, and all I saw was a light board in the top of the shell. How are decoders installed in these loco's? Does a DCC Decoder replace the light board? Do I need to disassemble the loco further to hard wire? I am at a loss. Pleas help!!!!
Thanks!