Decoders in life-like gp-30

[Anonymous]

I have a few life-likes that i want to convert to DCC. I know they are not the best, but instead of scrapping them it would be a great way to get experience on the installation of decoders. Which decoders should i use and can anyone post directions.
Thanks,
Mark

[cacole]

LifeLike makes three different product lines, so which one are you asking about? There's the LifeLike train set locomotives, Proto 1000, and Proto 2000. If you have the train set variety, I have no experience putting decoders into them so I can't help you on that. I have seen some train set locomotives that I would not even consider worth the cost of a decoder, because no matter what you do to them they are not going to run well.

For Proto engines, installation is easy. Instructions come with decoders, by the way, so you don't need detailed blow-by-blow instructions to be posted here by anyone unless you have something unique.

Your best bet would be to contact Tony's Train Exchange, Loy's Toys, or Litchfield Station and ask them what decoder would fit into these locomotives, after you determine exactly which type they are. They may also tell you to forget about putting decoders into train set locomotives.

[samgolden]

My Grandson has a GP-38 that came in a Life Like Train Set . It has traction tires and only one truck is powered.
With the Power Pack that came with the set, when it started it would start at about half speed. I put a Digitrax Dh121 decoder in it and tuned it up with the start, mid, and max, voltages and now it will, start on #1 on the controller and crawl at a very low speed, and runs very good. I also limited the max speed to something considerably slower than what used to be Max speed without the decoder. At last run it would pull 25 cars (good runing ones) and really suprised me on how good it runs.

Sam