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Athearn SD40 not the current run

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Posted by riogrande5761 on Monday, February 29, 2016 6:57 AM

CGW121

It is not a bluebox but a RTR loco w pin.

I don't believe Athearn ever offered a blue box SD40, only the SD40-2.  Athearn aquired the RPP SD40 shells and upgraded them, and offered SD40's in the RTR line until the molds wore out a few years ago - newer ones are new tooling of course.

Rio Grande.  The Action Road  - Focus 1977-1983

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Posted by CGW121 on Sunday, February 28, 2016 11:08 AM

It had both 9 pin and 8 pin available. On the rear there was a 9 pin harness hard wired to the board with a Digitrax decoder plugged into it. On the front end was an 8 pin socket that was unused. The decoder was set to the engine number.

 

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Posted by gmpullman on Saturday, February 27, 2016 11:11 PM

maxman
He's asking about the location for an 8-pin plug.

That's good, he shouldn't have to worry about isolating the motor, at least.

Ed

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Posted by jrbernier on Saturday, February 27, 2016 10:48 PM
Most of the Athearn RTR I have seen have a 9 pin JST setup with a 9 pin to 8 pin short harness. Many decoders have the JST connector.

Modeling BNSF  and Milwaukee Road in SW Wisconsin

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Posted by maxman on Saturday, February 27, 2016 9:26 PM

JoeinPA
Athearn RTR locos have a 9 pin harness in place on the lighting board.

He's asking about the location for an 8-pin plug.

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Posted by JoeinPA on Saturday, February 27, 2016 8:47 PM

Athearn RTR locos have a 9 pin harness in place on the lighting board. There should be a DC dummy plag in place on the harness. Unplug the dummy plug and plug your decoder in its place.

Joe

 

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Posted by CGW121 on Saturday, February 27, 2016 8:35 PM

It is not a bluebox but a RTR loco w pin.I have not opened the loco to examine its innards tho.

 

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Posted by gmpullman on Saturday, February 27, 2016 8:28 PM

The April, 2016 issue of MR just happens to have an article on installing a decoder in an older Athearn blue-box locomotive.

http://mrr.trains.com/videos/issue-preview/2016/02/video-inside-the-april-2016-model-railroader

 

Regards, Ed

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Athearn SD40 not the current run
Posted by CGW121 on Saturday, February 27, 2016 8:25 PM

We went to the train show in Lena Illinois and had a great time today. I found an Athearn SD40 not the new one from a earlier run. It is dcc compatable. Has anyone put a decoder in one? It says use a 9 pin plug or an 8 pin plug. If an 8 pin is used it needs to be soldered. Can anyone shed some light as to what they mean?

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