I have to agree. I just looked at the tender diagram. Removing the decoder and rewiring would be an effort.
Dual mode decoders with DC do not wake up until the track voltage is about five volts and about seven volts for the loco to move. Nature of the beast.
Rich
If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.
wjstix My suggestion would be to contact Bachmann's parts / service department and inquire of buying a "DCC ready" tender for your engine. Bachmann has a pretty good supply of parts, and they aren't all that expensive. You just unplug the harness from the tender to the engine, and plug in your new DC tender. If they don't have a Maine Central tender, you can just get any tender that's correct for that engine (any other railroad, or undec) and swap the tender bodies. You could then sell the sound decoder equipped tender, probably for twice what you paid for the DCC-ready tender. I believe the 2-8-2 uses the same USRA tender as several other Bachmann engines, so I'd bet a lot of folks would be interested in buying the sound tender. https://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/index.php
My suggestion would be to contact Bachmann's parts / service department and inquire of buying a "DCC ready" tender for your engine. Bachmann has a pretty good supply of parts, and they aren't all that expensive. You just unplug the harness from the tender to the engine, and plug in your new DC tender. If they don't have a Maine Central tender, you can just get any tender that's correct for that engine (any other railroad, or undec) and swap the tender bodies.
You could then sell the sound decoder equipped tender, probably for twice what you paid for the DCC-ready tender. I believe the 2-8-2 uses the same USRA tender as several other Bachmann engines, so I'd bet a lot of folks would be interested in buying the sound tender.
https://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/index.php
Based on my experience with Bachmann there is possible problem with this solution. On other Bachmann locos I have worked on, the DCC w/sound versions have different pin assignments between the engine and tender from the DCC ready versions. Example the pickup polarity of the loco may be reversed in the plug.
A better solution might be to see if Bachmann has a DC light board separate or take the light board out.
In any case double check the wiring.
Sheldon
I know the recent HO 2-6-0's tether and plug are the same for sound value and DCC-ready versions. My guess is it would be the same for the USRA 2-8-2 and 4-6-2, but wouldn't hurt to double check with Bachmann.
Here is what the tender should look like from the Bachmann site. Notice, no eight pin socket. I should have posted this some time ago. He would be better off with a new DCC ready tender with the DC adapter. I bought one some years ago. for another loco. Plugged right in.
https://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/dwg/dwgs/HO2-8-2withSOUND_TENDER.pdf
The 4-6-2 is completely different.
Interesting thoughts about a tender swap. I will inquire with Bachmann
David