I'm not the greatest at installing decoders into older engines that I own. The engines run great and are powerful enough to pull long trains singlely. Would anyone know a place that I can send engines to that would install decoders into them for a reasonable price? I would provide the decoder that I would like in the engine?
Where do you live, and do you have a train shop nearby? Or, perhaps a train club? I would suggest staying local, because 2-way shipping would add significantly to the cost, and there's always the risk of breakage.
It's not a difficult job at all if you have some soldering experience. Perhaps you can find someone to work you through the first one or two, after which you'll be able to do the rest by yourself.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Hi,
As you might guess, the degree of difficulty in installing decoders in older locos ranges from the rather simple (assuming one can do soldering) to the very difficult. It all depends on the locos.
When I jumped into DCC I had well over 50 power units. With the help of the good folks on this forum, they were sorted into "degree of difficulty" categories. Those that required extensive work were quickly put up for auction. The rest were eventually converted.
Anyone doing the job for you would consider that degree of difficulty in charging you for the task. The thing is, a lot of older locos just are not worth the time/expense to convert.
You might want to list the locos you are considering for conversion, and the folks here will let you know which are "no brainers", and which are just not worth it.
ENJOY !
Mobilman44
Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central
I always wonder what your idea of a reasonable price is ?
People spend $100.00 on a loco and then want some one to work on it for next to nothing.
The installer is working on a unit that they must be able to remove the shell (without breaking something) and install a decoder and make it work, plus do some programming. Then test and make sure it is good to go.
Some may need to have some machine work done to make room for a decoder.
All this takes time and is worth some $$.
A few years back, I had a sound decoder installed in a P2K switcher. I had installed a motor-only decoder in that engine myself and I'd replaced the incandescent lamps with LEDs. There was very little room inside the shell, so I decided to pay a pro to do the work.
He installed a Loksound decoder and speaker, and the engine now runs and sounds great. The decoder was expensive, but he only charged $30 for labor. I thought that was quite a bargain.