Login
or
Register
Subscriber & Member Login
Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!
Login
Register
Home
»
Model Railroader
»
Forums
»
Electronics and DCC
»
Athearn GP38-2 DCC install
Edit post
Edit your reply below.
Post Body
Enter your post below.
<p>The frame receives power from the left hand rail. The motor must be isolated from the frame. Addionally on the advice of Randy, I swapped the motor clips from the top to the bottom, to prevent the tabs from wearing through the tape and short circuiting the decoder. As warned the commutator brushes fell out when I removed the clips, be careful to re-insert them so that the curved worn side matches the commutator or you will be replacing them prematurely. </p> <p><img id="fullsizeMedia" style="width:659px;height:494.25px;margin-top:42.87px;" src="http://i1168.photobucket.com/albums/r486/BMMECNYC/Chasis_zpsb8lhmpbv.jpg?t=1431179040" alt="Chassis preparation photo Chasis_zpsb8lhmpbv.jpg" width="773" height="580" /></p> <p>For the Left rail pickup, I soldered it ot the tab coming up for the light bulb. The tab on this locomotive was not loose so I didnt bother with drilling and tapping a hole in the frame, your experiance may vary.</p> <p> </p> <p><img id="fullsizeMedia" style="width:659px;height:494.25px;margin-top:42.87px;" src="http://i1168.photobucket.com/albums/r486/BMMECNYC/Left%20rail%20connection_zpsrdhvvvvn.jpeg?t=1431179045" alt="Left Rail connection photo Left rail connection_zpsrdhvvvvn.jpeg" width="773" height="580" /></p> <p>Motor and flywheel assembly with tabbed clip still on bottom, as previously mentioned this clip was swapped to the top. Heed the warning about the little springs and commutator brushes.</p> <p><img id="fullsizeMedia" style="width:659px;height:494.25px;margin-top:42.87px;" src="http://i1168.photobucket.com/albums/r486/BMMECNYC/Motor%20flywheel%20assembly_zpstl5tmntf.jpeg?t=1431179045" alt="Motor/Flywheel assembly. Lower clip was later switched to top photo Motor flywheel assembly_zpstl5tmntf.jpeg" width="773" height="580" /></p> <p>Chassis reassembled with the Athearn Drop in board. It did not fit under the shell of the GP38-2. I decided to hard wire vice risking damage to the shell.</p> <p><img id="fullsizeMedia" style="width:659px;height:494.25px;margin-top:42.87px;" src="http://i1168.photobucket.com/albums/r486/BMMECNYC/Chasis%20with%20athearn%20drop-in%20board_zpsyjrzhkl8.jpeg?t=1431179045" alt="Athearn Drop in board, shell wouldnt fit on photo Chasis with athearn drop-in board_zpsyjrzhkl8.jpeg" width="773" height="580" /></p> <p> </p> <p>Final assembly, or so I thought last night. I ended up splicing in 3in of wire on the forward light (RH in photo) and swapping it with the backup light. A large amount of black electrical tape was used to hold the wires and LEDs in place. Additionally I used black electrical tape to prevent light from shining through the shell around the number boards and the sides and rear of the long hood.<img id="fullsizeMedia" style="width:659px;height:494.25px;margin-top:42.87px;" src="http://i1168.photobucket.com/albums/r486/BMMECNYC/Final%20Chasis%20motor%20assembly_zpsdg2xwjed.jpeg?t=1431179045" alt="Drive without athtearn board photo Final Chasis motor assembly_zpsdg2xwjed.jpeg" width="773" height="580" /></p> <p> </p> <p> </p>
Tags (Optional)
Tags are keywords that get attached to your post. They are used to categorize your submission and make it easier to search for. To add tags to your post type a tag into the box below and click the "Add Tag" button.
Add Tag
Update Reply
Subscriber & Member Login
Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!
Login
Register
Users Online
There are no community member online
Search the Community
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Model Railroader Newsletter
See all
Sign up for our FREE e-newsletter
and get model railroad news in your inbox!
Sign up