Hey Alan-B,
Thanks for the info. I have a low-boiler 4-6-0 and intend to install a Tsunami decoder sometime soon, so, your thread will be a big help. I've copied it to a Word document for safe-keeping.
Thanks,
Jcopilot
Two weeks ago, I installed a Tsunami decoder in the low boiler 4-6-0. This week, I put one in the high boiler version. Boy what a difference in size between the two tenders. In both cases, I left the decoder wires a little on the long side in case I wanted to put the decoder in another engine at a later time. In both cases, I removed the PC board from the tender . In both cases, I had to remove the post that is used to screw the tender top to the bottom (a drop of glue on the front works to re-install the tender top as the back clips were still there).
In the low boiler version; I had to completely gut the tender insides below the top deck. I mounted the speaker on top of the deck and then built a new coal load. There simply was not enough room inside the tender for the decoder and the speaker. I also had to cut off the support post for the PC board (not the one that the screw fits in). I mounted the speaker magnet side up (same sound on both sides of the cone) over a hole cut in the tender deck. I filled in the space around the speaker to isolate the front and back sides of the speaker. It all just barely fits ! I did add a light (LED) to the tender rear end while I was working on the unit.
The high boiler version comes with a much larger tender. Due to the post for the tail light, I did have to cut off the post that is used to screw the top to the bottom plate. I removed the coal load and cut the tender deck under the coal load to fit a Soundtrax 3/4 x 1.5" speaker. The coal load was drilled with a bunch of small holes and re-installed. The tender shell is held on with the rear clips and a drop of glue on the front end. Boy is this tender huge compared to the low boiler version of the 4-6-0. Now, I only have to badge the unit for the BAH R.R.
The two engines showing the speakers
The two engines showing the coal loads and relative tender sizes.
The two engines - from the side:
I hope that this information helps someone considering this installation.