P2K Bl2 Before, During & After Hardwiring.

[Anonymous]

This was a really good choice for my first hard wiring attempt.  After jeffrey-wimberly posted his tutorial for me, I was able to figure out the slight differences and the conversion went off without a hitch...well, one.

Before:  This old loco has a lot of space inside for tinkering...sure helps not having a narrow body.  Also, this was a real cheapie off Ebay.  If it didn't work, I wouldn't cry.

Using a Soundtraxx DSD090 generic diesel decoder that was left over in my tool case.  This is a mini decoder, but I could have fit a very large one in this BL2.  This decoder left a lot of room for a good-sized oval speaker.  Lots of open exhaust vents above in the shell.

But the trouble with Soundtraxx is that one has to take the extra step of wiring in a resistor and a capacitor if changing the lights to LEDs to prevent unwanted glow when the LED should be off.

Double Knuckle Panavise with suction cups, and a magnifier with a light are invaluable to old, shaky near-sighted people.

All converted, now.

Looks good.  Shell has plenty of room.  Wait a minute!...It runs backwards and the lights are reversed!  Double-checked the wiring...its ok according to colour codes....must be a quirk of the old engine....motor leads or pickups are opposite to the tutorial or something.  But a quick fix...the Soundtraxx decoder reprogrammed to "reverse" operation, and a quick resoldering of the LED leads and we're done.

Now this old thing creaks and clanks along.  I have set the start voltage just about as high as it will go, but it still starts slowly and lurches once in awhile at slow speeds.  I can see the brushes sparking....maybe they need replacing, but maybe that is just because the frame is so open that I can see this.  Yet the BL2 has become a favourite of mine.  The EMD 1st generation sound and single airhorn sets it apart from my other diesels.

 

 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Get some CRC 2-26 and put a drop on the motors commutator. That'll reduce the sparking and should help make the lurching stop.