I purchased this older Spectrum GE 70 Ton Switcher from Ebay.
I would like to convert it to DCC. The schematics show it to have a motor in each truck. I suspect this will make it difficult to convert and I'm not sure if the motor is isolated from the chassis. Here is a pic of the schematics:
I posted this question on the Bachman board and one member commented that this loco was junk and another said it would be extremely hard to convert. So..I thought I'd ask the experts here! I would love for it to have sound as well but maybe that's asking too much due to it's small size..What standard decoder would work?
Thanks
Todd
I have converted two of the older Bachmann Spectrum GE 44 ton switchers to DCC, so this one should also be possible. The main thing to watch is that both motors run in the same direction. Wire them in parallel. The motor brushes were totally isolated from the frame, so that's no problem.
I used a Lenz LE077FX decoder, which was the only one small enough to fit at the time. A TCS M-1 is similar. I think Digitrax and NCE also now have a dime-sized decoder available.
Forget sound -- there would be no room for a speaker.
cacole Forget sound -- there would be no room for a speaker.
Don't say that, Wolfgang would find a way, if he hasn't already. He has sound in a 44-tonner!
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Thanks guys!
rrinker cacole Forget sound -- there would be no room for a speaker. Don't say that, Wolfgang would find a way, if he hasn't already. He has sound in a 44-tonner! --Randy
A '44' with sound . How about in N scale? I planned on my layout being in an era where 44's were fairly knew and that's what my rail road bought as their first diesel switcher (I'm freelancin' by the by).
Actually, I have installed a Lokmotive 3.5 mirco decoder w/sound in my Spectrum 44 tonner. The only compromise is that the speaker must be in the cab but it is installed in an unobtreusive way and painted black and with an "engineer" in place, it looks O.K.. There is a LokSound (ESU) download for a 44 tonner but you must have the person you buy the decoder from do it if you do not have the LokSound programmer. I know that the guy at this location will pre-load the sound for you and the decoder includes a small speaker. www.nancystrains.com He works out of his home but the service was fast and helpful. Not only do you get sound but the little engine really runs well with a decoder.
TRNJ
That's good news! Thanks TRNJ!
I, too, installed a LokSound Micro in my 44 tonner using the single motor version and an old B&M body that was on a two motor frame. My speaker is in the cab roof too, but I had to saw the engineer in half head to toe so he wasn't jammed against the speaker enclosure. He looks fine from the outside. The enclosure, of black styrene isn't too noticable.
Mark
I finally had a chance to run the loco in straight DC and run it did not.. .One of the motors
will not work. It worked briefly then quit. I took the body off and check all the connections-nothing seems obvious. Should I just remove that motor and have the engine run off just one? The guy at the hobby shop said the 3.5 micro decoder wouldn't be able to handle the draw from two motors anyway and one would likely be a stretch as well..
Disconnect the motor and check the motor resistance with a multimeter. They should be both about the same resistance. I hope you are not trying to do model railroad electrical without a multimeter. Check the current draw under DC power with both motors operating.
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.
I have a mutlimeter. Since I don't have the layout up and running yet, I decided to set up a strip of track to test run three loco's that I have (one of which is a sound and dcc equipped Proto RS27 that runs SWEEEET) and thought I'd give the little GE a try. I didn't have a lot of time to dig into it but I'm sure it's nothing too serious.
Well, it looks like this loco will end up on the shelf. I took it apart and found one of the drive axle/gears split. It's a strange setup. Each wheel has a small axle that pushed into a tube that has an integral gear. The motor that wasn't working is getting intermittant contact. After an hour of cleaning and repositioning the contacts it would work about 80% better-still not enough to make it a reliable loco. I decided on plan B-to remove that motor from the truck and remove a couple of gears to allow those drive wheels to free wheel. That worked ok however when I run the train the other drive mechanism goes "clunk clunk clunk clunk"
In my opinion this loco has a very poor drive design. I didn't pay much for it so it's no great loss other than it's a nice looking locomotive.