Bachman Spectrum Shay

[mreagant]

I have one of the early Bachman Spectrum 3-Truck Shays and nothing in the literature that accompanied it suggests "DCC ready."  I have not looked inside to see if there is a plug n'play socket so  does any know if they are all ready to go or if the early ones require a hard wire install? 

Also, is there enough space in the tender for sound?

Mike

[cacole]

I have three of the original Bachmann Spectrum 3-truck Shays and they were DCC ready.  At the time, SoundTraxx even made a decoder specifically to fit into the extremely limited space that is available for the decoder in the rear tender area.  The speaker fit into the front tender.  I don't think those decoders are available now, but a Tsunami micro may fit and be a better choice.

[don7]

Check the diagram, it shows the socket placement in the last truck.  If you do not have the diagram it is available under product reference on this site.

[trainnut1250]

I used the specially designed Soundtraxx LC decoder in one of my shays (the decoder Cacole mentions).  The install required one hole to be drilled and a bit of fussing to get things to fit well.  Overall an easy install.....I eventually will be fitting the loco with a micro Tsunami..

Watch out for the ladder on the rear of the tank when you remove it to get to the socket.  I broke one of them by bending it the wrong way...

 

Guy

[mmartian22]

use a 750 mirco tsunami , for the older loco which is going to rough to install due to fact all wires are black you will have get a  multi meter to check which wires  goes where and mark them for track .motor ,lights i put the decoder and cap . in the coal bin  and ran speaker wires to tender and speaker in tender. the new one has plug n play hard wire decoder to light board   and install decoder  and cap in coal bin again use tsunami 750 again these work great in in shays and climax's