Isolated both motors. I ran both motors with gears on the bench with 7 volts DC for about an hour. Both directions. Total current both together was 160ma. First, I lightly greased the gears with LaBelle 102 and 134 using a small paint brush. Just a film. Dot of LaBelle108 oil on each bearing for each motor. Wiped off excess oil.
Installed a Z scale decoder, DZ125. The loco runs very nice and quite quiet. It will only be for switching. Creeps along quite nice using a NCE Power Cab.
I set the decoder CV's to the suggested Digitrax specs for switching.
I wonder if I will be able to run this in consist with my single motor that will have a LokSound micro v3.5 decoder? We shall see.
Have heard in the past that some had smoked the decoders. I was just wondering. I was aware of the motor polarity. Fun project.
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.
Cacole:
You're correct they have to be wired to turn in opposite directions since they are two of the same units back to back (or front to front?). I found out the hard way.
Joe
Yes, I've put TCS M-1 decoders into a couple of Bachmann 2-motor 44 tonners -- wired the motors in parallel.
What's your question about these installs? IIRC, the motors had to be wired to turn in opposite directions.
Rich:
I put a TCS M1 in an older Bachmann Sprectrum two motor GE 44 Ton Switcher. It was a little tight but it worked well until the motors fried for no good reason (other than age?). I salvaged the decoder and it is now in a new single motor 44 tonner that percolates along just fine.
Oops. Two motor Bachmann 44 ton loco.
Into a 2 motor Bachmann what? I've put a decoder into an Athearn DD40X that has two motors.
Anyone ever try a decoder in a two motor bachmann? Just wondering.