Lok Sound Micro crammed in a Spectrum dual motor 44 tonner!

[dragenrider]

I love Spectrum's GE 44 and 70 tonner diesels.  My collection consists of several of both the newer, single motor and the older, dual motor versions.  Unfortunately, these unique looking little critters always seem to fall short of my expectations.  Bachmann did a fine job of trying to improve on their product with the single motor, but still....

One of the best running little engines in my collection is a dual motor 44 tonner.  This little beauty has held up long and well.  But like the story of the goose that laid the golden egg, I wanted more!  The idea of using a Lok Sound Micro has been peculating for several months.  Lok Sound has superb motor control and great sound.  The Micro is pretty small, so it should fit, I thought.  But, what about the motor control and the tiny dual motors? 

I put the issue out on the forum.  While several people had some well educated theories, no one appeared to have tried this venture.  So, this week I decided to lay into my gold egg laying goose and see what I could do inside.  Here's the pictures and the results:

 

Picture 1--The patient prepared for surgery.

 

Picture 2--All of the component parts spread out for examination.

 

Picture 3--Cutting the motor leads and rewiring each of the motors.

 

Picture 4--Test fitting the decoder just prior to running the engine on the test track.  Oops!  I wired the motors in opposite directions! 

 

Picture 5--Where do I put the speaker?  The shell fits snug over the decoder and the underside of the flashing light pokes down too far into the cab.   Hmmm.....

 

Picture 6--It's hard to tell from this picture, but the speaker ended up being placed on its side in the cab, blocking a window.  The control stand support and part of the plastic shell had to be trimmed for this fit.  The speaker faces inward, so the sound crosses the cab, over the frame and out the open window on the opposite side. 

 

So, what are the results?  Spectacular!!!    This little critter has the best slow speed of any of my engines.  It can c-r-a-w-l so slow!  The sound is good and the dual motors are constantly in sync.  No more motor hang ups or sputtering!  There was enough room to change out the lights and install the aforementioned flasher, too. 

Here's a couple of rough video clips I took of the little fellow in action.  One is a start up sequence and a move through a grade crossing.  The other is trestle scene.   

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsjZO3yT8fg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hysML4GPcYE

Needless to say, I'm having a blast with my 44 tonner! 

[Mark R.]

OMG !!!  That's some serious cramming you did there !!! 

Congrats, kudos and a double high five for getting everything stuffed in there and working so well. When I first opened this thread, I thought you were going to ask if it COULD be done .... I wasn't expecting it could, really ! I didn't think there was any way you could cram a speaker in there as well. Great job.

Mark.

[dragenrider]

Thanks, Mark.  It took some very small pliers & screwdrivers and caused me to lose about a year's worth of eyesight due to squinting and eye strain. 

[Pathfinder]

Excellent!  Gives me hope for my Keystone 44 tonner.

Now if this could be done for the Roundhouse EMD Model 40 

[ShadowNix]

Heeheheh nice.  I just put a Lenz Silver Micro in mine tonight.  Lub it!  Moves on speed step 1!!!!  Yikes. Also put in LED's... 

Brian

[ereimer]

great installation , great tutorial , great demo videos !

and the amazing thing is it sounds great even with a very small speaker

what size is the speaker and is it self baffled (enclosed) ?

 

thanks !

 

[dragenrider]

Thank you, ereimer.  The speaker shape is in a rectangle and almost the size of the top of the 44 tonner's roof.  It would have fit perfect inside the ceiling if not for the light inside.  This is the original speaker which comes with the Micro.  It's not baffled, but I'm guessing that the positioning against the cab wall may produce the effect. 

[Pathfinder]

Thank you, ereimer.  The speaker shape is in a rectangle and almost the size of the top of the 44 tonner's roof.  It would have fit perfect inside the ceiling if not for the light inside.  This is the original speaker which comes with the Micro.  It's not baffled, but I'm guessing that the positioning against the cab wall may produce the effect. 

Proper baffling requires an air-tight enclosure.  But who cares, it sounds great whatever you did! 

[GAPPLEG]

Great job , I've got two  44 tonners on my layout, will have to look into this.

[wedudler]

Great job!

I did this with my 44-ton some years ago and I used the normal ESU loksound. But it was a Keystone engine. video   

 Wolfgang

[dragenrider]

Great job!

I did this with my 44-ton some years ago and I used the normal ESU loksound. But it was a Keystone engine. video   

 Wolfgang

 

Wolfgang, it was your videos which prompted me to start messing with my 44 tonner.  I also took close note of the pictures of the installation.  You have a great web site with a lot of info to share. 

Oh, and I still like the R2D2 noises your engine makes!