Having problems with isolating motor on a GP-50. Its a BB Athearns HO. trying to put a digitraks 123 decoder in. any help would be appreicated.
4x8 are fun too!!! RussellRail
I dont have a GP50 but if its like any other Athearn its just a matter of popping the motor out and bend the sharp tang from the motor clip against the motor(or better yet swap clips from top and bottom) solder a wire to the clips and place a piece of good (3M brand) electric tape where the motor made contact and re set the motor back in.
Pete
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!
My Athearn BB's are not GP-50, but all of them seem to have the same motor setup. To isolate the motor electrically, carefully remove the brass clip on top, catching the carbon contact and spring before they fly to oblivion and save them for later re-insertion. Next, pry the motor out (its plastic buttons underneath fit into socket holes in the frame.) The brass clip on bottom of the motor has prongs that make electrical contact with the frame...old instructions recommend cutting off those prongs, and putting a heavy piece of electric insulation tape or of styrene in the frame pocket to prevent motor contact with the frame. If you are installing a "hardwire" decoder rather than a special plugin type for Athearn locos, the next step is to solder the decoder's orange wire to the brass clip to be replaced on bottom of the motor. Solder the decoder's gray wire to the brass clip that goes on top of the motor and reassemble the carbon contact and its spring before snapping on the top brass clip. Remaining decoder wires are optional for connection to headlights and other features depending on the decoder.
My apology is offered if these details offend your existing knowledge, but I sure wish someone had provided this to me as I began my first Athearn BB loco DCC install! All those done since then with Digitrax 123's are running great. The big challenge was often in trying to fit the decoder in the loco body. Good luck on that! A heavy mill file and hacksaw might be needed. Hand grenades are prohibitted. DCC is paradise for us 80 year old railers! Bob B.
Be careful removing BOTH clips at the same as these are also what holds the motor case together.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
rrinker Be careful removing BOTH clips at the same as these are also what holds the motor case together. --Randy
Don't forget to be careful not to lose the little springs holding the brushes to the commutator and I try to test run for the first time with no shell on the frame (if possible).
Dan