decoder fitting.

I've just taken delivery of this loco and very nice it is too. It also got here in record time. Anyway I thought I'd put up some pic's of decoder fitting. The recommended decoder is a Dapol Imperium but I was determined to fit a Zimo. I used an MX617N that I had here, de-soldering the six pins. I removed the circuit board and soldered the wires to the decoder pads. I've put a Lais stay alive in the cab which is hard to see when it stands upright against the back of the cab, secured with a spot of blutac. Of course it couldn't go according to plan, I lost one of the pull back springs on a coupler and it's no longer on planet earth! After spending hours looking for it I gave up and emailed Dapol to see if they would send me out a couple of springs.
Pic's of what turned out to be not much of a job.



The blutac's not needed and I took it off after this.




The MX617N is a nice fit. Kapton tape and then double sided tape to hold and insulate it.

I've had a reply from DCC supplies and they're sending one or two springs out. Good service or what.
We all realise now that even after spending ages on hands and knees and completely clearing my bench of everything in an effort to find this spring, it'll now turn up as Arthur Askey used to say, before my very eyes.

Pete,


What sort of spring was it you lost? Most couplers don't have springs, the only ones I know of are Kadees but I can't see the loco being supplied with those fitted.
 
BTW BlackTak is far superior to the blue variety which dries and hardens out here in Oz. It has superior tack so a tiny speck will suffice vs a big blob of the blue. Order some next time you're getting something from Youchoos or your DCC supplier of choice, I strongly recommend making the switch.


Colin

The spring is part of the close coupling mechanism. You get close coupling on the straight, but then it opens out on curves. The spring pulls the coupling back in place after a curve.

The blutac came out as it wasn't needed and yes you're right, it goes hard out here. I ordered some Black Tack from ebay but it's much too strong for our use even with the slightest amount.

[user=1120]peterm[/user] wrote:

The spring is part of the close coupling mechanism. You get close coupling on the straight, but then it opens out on curves. The spring pulls the coupling back in place after a curve.

The blutac came out as it wasn't needed and yes you're right, it goes hard out here. I ordered some Black Tack from ebay but it's much too strong for our use even with the slightest amount.

Of course, hadn't thought of those couplings as I've never looked closely. Typically fitted on the Hornby Coach bogies these days.

I'm a bit surprised by your comment on Black Tak, Youchos use it in many of their demo installs.

Learning from this, I've found it invaluable for various uses

• to hold wires into tight spots e.g. along sides of motor where if they come free they invariably foul the tight fit between motor and body.
• Holding chips and small components in a snug corner of the body etc.

 Are you sure they didn't sell you "Kryptonite All-Tak" by mistake?  :twisted:

Ha ha. Yes I think it might be Kryptonite. I understand that professionals use it to secure cameras etc while filming. I see that Digitrains sell it too so with my next order I'll grab some.

Couplings the same as the Hornby one's you mentioned.

An update. My lovely wife, unbeknownst to me went out to the garage and swept the carpets and concrete floor with a dustpan and brush and found the spring!!! It's now back in place and I'll end up with a spare or two. So a big thanks to my wife and DCC Supples.

I always knew there was a reason we had wives …….. :cool wink

(You'll realise Liz is out shopping as I write this …. )

[user=6]Petermac[/user] wrote:

I always knew there was a reason we had wives …….. :cool wink

(You'll realise Liz is out shopping as I write this …. )

This is a man who likes to live dangerously.  :pedal

:cool wink

Living life on the edge.