This is an older model with a heavy frame. It is not like I need another engine but I have it and it is definatly not DCC ready.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBTaicDsMgw this is for a sound decoder, but same for motor only. Article is in July 2020 MR.
I'd say if it's a yellow box Atlas, it's worth it.
Mike.
My You Tube
Hello All,
How deep is your tool bench?
Check out this thread...
Converting DC losos to DCC?
As Albert Einstein was attributed saying, "If you open a can of worms the only way to get all the worms back in is to use a bigger can."
Hope this helps.
"Uhh...I didn’t know it was 'impossible' I just made it work...sorry"
If the motor is isolated from the frame - and it probably is - then you should convert it. A "hard wire" installation isn't called that because it's hard (difficult); it means you're soldering the connections rather than using an 8, 9 or 21 pin plug-in.
The motor is not isolated from the chassis on that engine, but a nylon screw and some tape fix that. Watch the YouTube video posted above.
Mark.
¡ uʍop ǝpısdn sı ǝɹnʇɐuƃıs ʎɯ 'dlǝɥ
Simple question:. How does it run on DC? If it's smooth, you've got a winner, but if it's jerkey or has to be helped along down the track, it might not be worth it.
I have some old Athearns from my teenage years. Yes, I could have put a lot of money into them and brought them up to modern specs with a new motor, wheels, drive train and trucks, but I just pulled out the power train and run them as dummies. I still have too many projects.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
'Old' is a relative term - they've made various versions of this loco over the years. I have one of the Roco made ones. It needs a strip and repaint, it's in Lehigh Valley paint (boo!). But It runs great, so I will put a decoder in it one way or another - there's less room than in the newer ones because of the big round Roco motor.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
To answer questions, it is a red box. It would need the whole works. The videos were a great help as was the advise. I liked the engine because of its weight but I do have a couple of S4 DCC and sound and a small layout. With all the factors and the additional imput from you, I could easily do it but by the time I do leds ect., I am leaning toward giving this one up and it has no sentimental value either, was just looking for something to pull my cmx but I just converted a couple of stuarts so maybe they will do.