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IS it DCC or NOT ? I have a Rivarossi HO R5466 West Side Lumber ...

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  • Member since
    April 2005
  • 2,314 posts
Posted by don7 on Thursday, March 22, 2012 9:34 PM

I have the Rivarossi Heisler R5466, it is DCC ready. It is simple to add the decoder. It is a great running engine.

  • Member since
    January 2008
  • From: Big Blackfoot River
  • 2,788 posts
Posted by Geared Steam on Thursday, March 22, 2012 7:26 PM

As Phil states above, but I may add to take your time and be very careful when reassembling. This is one of the more difficult locos to reassemble, especially the hand rails down each side of the boiler, watch them carefully. I have 2 that were DCC ready. In addition, keep a close eye on the small screws that hold the rod on the drivers, these have been known to back out by themselves and drop off while running. Parts are pretty much NLA but there is someone on Ebay selling off quite a few new in box parts for the Heisler, just search for Heisler.

"The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination."-Albert Einstein

http://gearedsteam.blogspot.com/

  • Member since
    January 2008
  • From: Oak Harbor Wa.
  • 148 posts
Posted by Sierra Man on Saturday, March 17, 2012 11:33 AM

My Heisler is a red box  with # R5465. It came DCC ready. It has a drop in plug. I used a Digitrax DH123 I think.  To get into it.First remove the boiler and cab and the bunker as follows.

1.Start by removing the screw inside the stack.

2. remove the piping from the air tanks.

3. lift the front of the boiler upward to disengage the wire braces that hold it to the frame, then pull forward to release the pegs and handrails from the cab.

4. gently pull the rear sandbox from the back of the bunker

5. remove the water tank hatch from the bunker and remove the screw.

6. remove the small air tank from the right front of the cab, under the running board.

7. remove the front screw then lift the cab and bunker off the frame.

If it is DCC ready, you will see the board at the back of the frame.

This is as per the instructions that came with mine.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Phil, CEO, Eastern Sierra Pacific Railroad.  We know where you are going, before you do!

  • Member since
    July 2001
  • From: US
  • 143 posts
Posted by TeddyB on Saturday, March 17, 2012 11:28 AM

It's DCC ready!

Thanks ALL!!

  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Metro East St. Louis
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Posted by simon1966 on Friday, March 16, 2012 5:20 PM

Rivarossi is part of Hornby now http://www.hornby-usa.com/  however, I think you can almost 100% guarantee that an old red-box Rivarossi is not going to be DCC.  Here is a link to the TCS DCC installation page, which may be the same as your model?  Looks like it should be fairly easy for you to open it up and check.

 

 

Simon Modelling CB&Q and Wabash See my slowly evolving layout on my picturetrail site http://www.picturetrail.com/simontrains and our videos at http://www.youtube.com/user/MrCrispybake?feature=mhum

  • Member since
    July 2001
  • From: US
  • 143 posts
Posted by TeddyB on Friday, March 16, 2012 4:39 PM

It says nothing on the box, pic below.

I can't find a manual online, Rivarossi is no longer around.

THANKS !!

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    February 2008
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Posted by maxman on Friday, March 16, 2012 3:01 PM

TeddyB

Hi ALL!
I just got ahold of a Rivarossi HO R5466 West Side Lumber, 2 truck Heisler.I don't have instructions !!!

I've seen on Ebay were this is DCC, how can I tell ? Are ALL the R5466 Riv's DCC ??

Thanks much, Ted

What does it say on the box?  With Dcc?   Or DCC ready?

There is a similar item listed on ebay except it is 5464.  It is listed as DCC ready.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/HO-Rivarossi-2-Truck-Heisler-Ohio-Match-Co-5464-DCC-Ready-/220863468476?pt=Model_RR_Trains&hash=item336c7d13bc

  • Member since
    October 2004
  • From: Colorful Colorado
  • 8,639 posts
Posted by Texas Zepher on Friday, March 16, 2012 2:40 PM

TeddyB
I just got ahold of a Rivarossi HO R5466 West Side Lumber, 2 truck Heisler.I don't have instructions !!!

I've seen on Ebay were this is DCC, how can I tell ? Are ALL the R5466 Riv's DCC ??

  You could put it on the programming track and see if the DCC unit can talk to the decoder in it.    You could put it on a DC track and see if it runs.    You could put it on a DCC and see if it starts buzzing or humming.  If so  take it off immediately because that generally means it is a DC.  Other wise try channel #3 or the locomotive number and see if it works.    If none of that works you could just open the unit up and see if there is a DCC decoder in it. 

  • Member since
    July 2001
  • From: US
  • 143 posts
IS it DCC or NOT ? I have a Rivarossi HO R5466 West Side Lumber ...
Posted by TeddyB on Friday, March 16, 2012 2:01 PM

Hi ALL!
I just got ahold of a Rivarossi HO R5466 West Side Lumber, 2 truck Heisler.I don't have instructions !!!

I've seen on Ebay were this is DCC, how can I tell ? Are ALL the R5466 Riv's DCC ??

Thanks much, Ted

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