DCC converting for roundhouse kits

[LogginLocos]

I have some old roundhouse kits that i would like to set up for dcc. a shay and a class A climax. the shay needs some repairs but the climax works. Can you offer any tips for isolating the motor?

[richg1998]

All the MDC locos I had, open frame motor or can motor, you just have to unsolder the two wires from the motor contacts.

I have the Climax and Boxcab.

Open them up and do a visual.

Just remembered, there is a Yahoo mdc roundhouse Group you might join and check out. Quite a lot of info in the Files and Photos section with users of both locos you have and parts sources.

Rich

[RR_Mel]

Bowser sells insulators for the brushes on the DC-70 series motors.

 

 

Mel

 

Modeling the early to mid 1950s SP in HO scale since 1951

 

My Model Railroad   

http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/

 

Bakersfield, California

 

I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.

[richg1998]

The only MDC loco I had with what I think was a DC-70 open frame motor was an all metal loco and tender 4-4-2. Current was about 1.5 amps at 12 vdc with motor locked. NWSL replaced the motor.

Thea is the first generation MDC from what I recall. It was a worm on the motor and a worm gear on the driver shaft.

Most MDC after that had the compound gear setup.

All my other open frame motors had the right side drivers connected to the motor by a wire from the frame and a wire from the tender. When I uusoldered the wires, the motor was isolated.

My geared locos had the open frame motor with to motor leads positioned on the top of the motor.

You can see the loco diagrams at the MDC Roundhouse HO Seeker website. I and others sent in our scans of the diagrams to him.

Make sure to measure the current at 12 vdc. Lock the motor shaft.

Rich

[richg1998]

Climax diagram. If you see only one wire to a motor contact, the other contact should be right to the frame. There may be an older version that I have not see.

http://www.hoseeker.net/assemblyexplosionMdc/Assembly%20Explosion%2018L-2%204-4-2%20Climax.jpg

Shay diagram

http://www.hoseeker.net/assemblyexplosionMdc/assemblyexplosion390shay.jpg

I believe there is still one fellow in the Yahoo mdc roundhouse group with parts.

Rich

[RR_Mel]

The MDC motor type depends on the year of manufacture, I have 7 MDC locomotives made prior to 1975 that have open frame pitman motors and one made in the 1980s that has a can motor.

 

Pitman stopped supplying motors for model railroad locomotives somewhere around the late 60s and Bowser acquired or bought the open frame motor tooling and stock, they still have some parts in stock. 

 

Before MDC shutdown you could buy a new chassis for the older locomotives that would accommodate new can motors.  I bought two chassis for my two 0-6-0s, I haven’t changed them yet.  Both of my 0-6-0s run like new, I installed a MRC sound decoder in my oldest (I bought it in 1952) and it runs great even with it’s DC-71 motor.

 

I also installed a Digitraxx decoder in one of my Shays with a DC-71 motor and it runs very good too. 

 

Mel

 

Modeling the early to mid 1950s SP in HO scale since 1951

 

My Model Railroad   

http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/

 

Bakersfield, California

 

I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.