Dcc in BACHMANN N GAUGE EMD DD40AX DIESEL LOCOMOTIVE

[iomtt]

Hi All, 

 I have  two  of  these   large  locos  in N  scale one  undecorated  and  one  in U.P. colours and wish  to  put  dcc  decoders in them, on  one  of  the  locos   only  one truck  is  driven   but  the  other   is   both  trucks with  two   flywheel  motors suggesting  possibly  i  have two  different  releases  of  it.

There  is  a  board in each roof providing  light at  either  end ....  although  i  would  like  install  dcc  decoders  in them  and  provide  light for  the  main front lights  not  just  the  headboxes  as now,  replacing  them  with LED'S,  also  with  the  space on the chassis  sound  could be  a posibility, have any  of  you  installed dcc in one  of these   big locos.

 

Any  help would  be  gratefully recieved.

   

[CSX Robert]

To be perfectly honest, unless you have replaced the geared axels(I think NWSL offers or did offer some), I would not bother. I have two of the Spectrum versions(two motor versions) and most of the axle gears have cracked. I got several replacement gears from Bachmann(Bachmann no longer has any) and many of them cracked also. Between the two engines and the replacement gears, I don't have enough gears that are not cracked for one engine.

[river_eagle]

few pics of an install

wiring cartoon

I unscrewed the boards from the shell to better see, the wires look long, but it allows the shell to be removed for service with the boards still attached

one other note, the axle gears from a Bachmann F9(not the F7) are the right size to replace the gears in the DDA40X dual motor versions, I don't know if they will fit the pancake motor versions though.

[Jacktal]

I have converted one of mine also as a test before a more important retrofit (my Challenger) and have obtained a decent runner when it seems to feel like it.I needed a model that was a little challenging to retrofit and expendable should I fail and the Spectrum DD was just that.Would I do it again?No way in both cases...the DD isn't worthed the effort and the Challenger is now available with DCC and sound from Athearn.

If you still wish to convert yours,then drop me an email,and I'll be happy to help you in the process.

[river_eagle]

check it out!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryo82x4SXoc

[iomtt]

Thank  you  to  you  all  for your  replies  i have since  asking  my  question purchased  another   DD  this  time   painted in  red  for some  reason   without the  handrails  and  details  added  as yet  although soon  it will  wear  U.P. # 6936 livery. along  with brass  and  reworked  parts  where  needed. Thank  you  river  eagle  for the  youtube  link   it  provided  me  with  some  good  ideas as  did  the  dcc pictures on conversion.

[iomtt]

The Bachmann N gauge EMD DD40XX is now fitted with its decoder and LED's it is a huge loco i hope can negotiate any curves i decide to use
decoder of choice was digitrax's DZ143 to use it up and the fact it is of course 4 function as the purple lead has been cut short and tucked away the green lead for a beacon to be fitted at a later date ..... i have a 1.5mm incandescent bulb for this but it is rated at 1.5V and need to know how to reduce its voltage
The loco need some attention on the body where over the years it has lost its front and rear rails though the whole of the rails i will replace with brass, and finish the trucks in Harbour mist grey adding etched irons and piping.
Here are a few pictures of it showing how huge it is next to a class 37 for comparison and the wiring installed .........

http://nick--orwin.photoblog.me.uk/p52061933.html
http://nick--orwin.photoblog.me.uk/p52061935.html
http://nick--orwin.photoblog.me.uk/p52061936.html
http://nick--orwin.photoblog.me.uk/p52061932.html


Many thanks for everybodies help it is greatly appreciated.