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Bachmann EMD GP40 DCC Ready

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  • Member since
    September 2014
  • From: 10,430’ (3,179 m)
  • 2,311 posts
Posted by jjdamnit on Saturday, March 28, 2020 1:38 PM

Hello All,

I would steer clear of the Bachmann decoders. They are extremely limited in their CV functions.

The Digitrax decoders are a great choice if you are looking for a 9-pin NMRA compliant decoder.

If you are willing to replace the PC board and solder in a decoder I would recommend the TCS KAM4 LED.

This decoder offers LED compatibility and a keep-alive function along with 4-functions.

Hope this helps.

"Uhh...I didn’t know it was 'impossible' I just made it work...sorry"

  • Member since
    October 2006
  • From: Western, MA
  • 8,571 posts
Posted by richg1998 on Friday, March 27, 2020 9:46 PM

Soundtraxx has a decoder selection site also for Bachmann. I have used SoundTraxx some years ago.

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.

  • Member since
    October 2006
  • From: Western, MA
  • 8,571 posts
Posted by richg1998 on Friday, March 27, 2020 9:41 PM

I saw that also.. Speaker in the oil tank. Put a layer of gauze between speaker and holes to prevent picking up metal particles from the roadbed by speaker magnent. It has happened.

If interested, lots of data on loco at the Bachmann site. Parts and mechanical diagram.

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.

  • Member since
    January 2011
  • 893 posts
Posted by PennCentral99 on Friday, March 27, 2020 9:35 PM

Depends on what you're looking for. Motor control? Sound? Both? 4 function? 6 function? There's so many variations, you're probably not going to find very many after-market recommendations.

I took a 30 year old Bachmann GP40 and added a Soundtraxx Tsunami and a speaker, probably one of my best running and sounding locos.

Terry

Inspired by Addiction

See more on my YouTube Channel

  • Member since
    December 2015
  • From: Shenandoah Valley
  • 9,094 posts
Posted by BigDaddy on Friday, March 27, 2020 9:27 PM

Here is a Wow sound installation in a Sound Value model.  It doesn't look like there is any space for a speaker except in the fuel tank.

https://tcsdcc.com/installation/ho-scale/1213

Henry

COB Potomac & Northern

Shenandoah Valley

  • Member since
    October 2006
  • From: Western, MA
  • 8,571 posts
Posted by richg1998 on Friday, March 27, 2020 9:25 PM

If your loco has an eight pin socket, get a small digitrax DZ126PS decoder. It comes with a plug. TCS has a better small plug on decoder. Check their site.

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.

  • Member since
    October 2006
  • From: Western, MA
  • 8,571 posts
Posted by richg1998 on Friday, March 27, 2020 9:16 PM

Designed for Bachmann locos sometime ago. The onboard got so many complaints. Comes with instructions. Remove caps if they do not say anything. I removed caps from my Bachmann locos.

https://ncedcc.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/200945019-BACH-DSL

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.

  • Member since
    February 2019
  • 8 posts
Bachmann EMD GP40 DCC Ready
Posted by TJohnson on Friday, March 27, 2020 9:02 PM

I wanted to see if anyone had decoder recommendations for this locomotive.  I wanted to add DCC and haven't been able to find any information about recommended decoders.

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