Converting old equipment to DCC

[tugboat95]

 I am currently running a DC system and will shortly convert to DCC, probably NCE.  I have several older (30 years older) cheap engines.  Tyco's and Bachmanns made in the 70's.  Every one still works fine with no problems what so ever.  I would like to keep using these both for sentimental reasons, as they were my first as a kid.  As well as a cheap engine for my son to play with.  Just can't convince myself to turn him loose with a 200 dollar engine.  I am very uneducated about attaching the chips to engines.  Is this even possible with such old equipment?  Just how hard is it?  I am a mechanic and pretty handy but not much of an electrician and tend to call in the experts when it comes to circuit boards.

[wholeman]

The basic rule is if the unit is smooth running, then it can be converted to DCC.  If it isn't smooth running, then it isn't worth converting over.  The reason is that DCC can give you smoother control of the motor.  If these units are smooth, and you want to convert them, then you will have to isolate the motor and hard wire the decoder in. 

Other posters will giver you other advice, but this all that I have been told.

Hope this helps.

[Allegheny2-6-6-6]

 Well there seems to be a Vail of mystery when it comes to upgrading DC equipment where in actuality it's really quite simple. If you can solder and read a schematic then you can convert DC locomotives to DCC "For the most part"   That being said there are some that are much easier then others to convert. In general diesels are easier then steam locomotives, but there are always exceptions. a quick thought is the motor must be isolated from the frame, power needs to be picked up from the trucks, lights, front and rear need to be connected to the decoder and of course the motor. Each manufacture has a line of "universal" fits most application decoders and some have loco specific models. Sound is nothing more then finding a space to mount ta small speaker and enclosure.Again some engines are much easier to do then others.

Rather then go on with along winded explanation that you will more then likely jsut sit there and scratch your head saying what the heck is this guy talking about there is a link at the bottom to the TCS web site where they provide you with pictures and simple explanations

 Your in a position that myself and many others here have found themselves in when we decided to make the jump to DCC, what do I do with all of my engines? That is a question that can only be answered by you. What I choose to do was to thin out my roster and keep the better stuff and the engines that were the easiest to convert. You may have favorites that are really good pullers or have sentimental value thats a personal choice so there is no right or wrong answer, it's your money and your railroad. generally speaking a lot of guys will say don't waste your money on converting old Tyco's and the like "cheaper" locomotives but again whose to tell you how to spend your money. Do your research and check with knowledgeable people and then make your decision.

 

  http://www.tcsdcc.com/Customer_Content/Installation_Pictures/HO_Scale/HO_Search/search.html

[jeffrey-wimberly]

 If the locos run well on DC then they should be OK for DCC. My two oldest locos are both 70's era Atlas GP40's and run quite well on DCC though they are a little jerky at slow speeds due to the old Roco 5 pole motors.

[cacole]

We've had several of those old Bachmann and Tyco locomotives donated to our HO scale club over the years.  I recently converted some of them to DCC by installing decoders, but only because I could get the decoders for $12 each in bulk.  If I had paid retail for the decoders the engines would not have been worth the time and effort of conversion.

DCC is much more prone to erratic operation due to dirty track and dirty wheels, and the poor electrical pickup of those older engines, most of which have power pickup only from one truck and plastic wheels on the other.  If you're really serious about smooth operation, invest in some newer locomotives.

 

[MisterBeasley]

I had all my teenage trains in boxes for 40 years.  When I took them out, I tried putting decoders in several of them.  From this experience, I can only echo what's been said above.  If an engine runs well on DC, it will run well on DCC.  Otherwise, it's probably not worth the effort.

If you "like the engine," then you might be able to buy a brand new mechanism and put your old shell on it.  I did that with one old F7, and I now have a great-running DCC engine with sound that looks just like my old engine from the early 1960s.

On the other hand, I tried putting a decoder into an old rubber-band-drive Athearn GP9.  When that experiment ended in failure, I started looking at buying a new motor and new trucks to refurbish the engine.  Instead, I ended up finding a discontinued GP9 of much higher quality than mine for less than I would have paid for a new motor and trucks.  I gutted the old engine, added Kadee couplers, and now I can run it as a dummy "honorary" locomotive.

[mobilman44]

Hi!

I'm a long time MR that just went over to DCC last year.  I've picked up about 10 DCC equipped locos, but have a good 50 or so from my DC days.  The previous posters were right on.....  If it runs good with DC, then it will probably do well with DCC.

That being said, last fall (after figuring out which locos were "keepers"), I categorized my DC locos into three groups.  The first was those that were relatively easy to convert (plug in decoders for the most part).  The second group were those that required wiring but not motor isolation.  The third group was those that required motor isolation. 

For me, I feel much more confident in starting with the easy ones and working my way to the harder ones.  Obviously, in this kind of task, experience counts!

ENJOY,

Mobilman44