I just got a 0-6-0 item number 50502 ho scale bachmann and I plan to convert it to dcc. But no clue how to take it apart.
I have done a number of these DCC conversions on the 0-6-0s and they are fairly easy to do. As I recall, there is one screw that holds the boiler and cab to the chassis. If you flip the locomotive over, you will find three screws on the cover plate. The rearmost one holds the body to the chassis. Remove that, and the boiler should slide back. There are tabs under the ends of the walkways near the smokestack, that slide into the cylinder assemblies, and once you slide those back out of the slots the body should lift right off.
You didn't ask but..... Remove the smoke unit from the chassis and you have room for a small N or Z scale decoder like a Digitrax DZ143 or DN126. Use the version without the plug. In the cab of the locomotive there should be a circuit board with 4 wires, two to the motor and two to the wheels. Unsolder those 4 wires and connect them to the appropriate wires on the decoder. There is also a headlight wedged btweeen the chassis halves just ahead of the smoke unit. Make sure you remove this because it will short out the decoder if you don't. You can hardwire a new headlight in its place, or solder the existing one to the appropriate decoder leads. Make sure you insulate all soldered connections using either heat shrink tubing, or electrical tape.
What does 0-6-0 represent or stand for? I am a neophyte in this hobby
0 front wheels - 6 driving wheels - 0 rear wheels
Ok. I've managed to disassemble the engine.
Now what. I'm not seeing anything obvious to replace or add the dcc components and can't find anything similar online as a tutorial.
Hi peacekeeper,
This particular 0-6-0 was last made in the 1990s and predates the development of DCC, so it does not have a dummy board or decoder socket. While we don't have specific instructions, DCC installation may be possible, but will require hardwiring the decoder.
Quote from: Yard Master on March 03, 2025, 09:32:44 AMHi peacekeeper,
This particular 0-6-0 was last made in the 1990s and predates the development of DCC, so it does not have a dummy board or decoder socket. While we don't have specific instructions, DCC installation may be possible, but will require hardwiring the decoder.
Yeah. I've watched a few install videos, just not sure what to solder where lol
Quote from: Yard Master on March 03, 2025, 09:32:44 AMHi peacekeeper,
This particular 0-6-0 was last made in the 1990s and predates the development of DCC, so it does not have a dummy board or decoder socket. While we don't have specific instructions, DCC installation may be possible, but will require hardwiring the decoder.
This wouldn't be a pancake motored version then, would it? I assumed it at east had the can motor.
Peacekeeper,
you wouldn't happen to have photos of it would you? If so, don't try to post them directly to the board. Upload them to FLickr or Imgur and link to them. I'd love to see what you're working with so I can advise how to proceed.
Quote from: jward on March 03, 2025, 02:17:42 PMPeacekeeper,
you wouldn't happen to have photos of it would you? If so, don't try to post them directly to the board. Upload them to FLickr or Imgur and link to them. I'd love to see what you're working with so I can advise how to proceed.
(https://images-wixmp-ed30a86b8c4ca887773594c2.wixmp.com/f/735a952a-c690-490c-b07f-2797a8d876fb/djarcug-9130c197-79ed-49c5-a408-33deaa32693b.jpg/v1/fill/w_1032,h_774,q_70,strp/20250223_141922_by_peacekeeperb_djarcug-pre.jpg?token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJzdWIiOiJ1cm46YXBwOjdlMGQxODg5ODIyNjQzNzNhNWYwZDQxNWVhMGQyNmUwIiwiaXNzIjoidXJuOmFwcDo3ZTBkMTg4OTgyMjY0MzczYTVmMGQ0MTVlYTBkMjZlMCIsIm9iaiI6W1t7ImhlaWdodCI6Ijw9OTYwIiwicGF0aCI6IlwvZlwvNzM1YTk1MmEtYzY5MC00OTBjLWIwN2YtMjc5N2E4ZDg3NmZiXC9kamFyY3VnLTkxMzBjMTk3LTc5ZWQtNDljNS1hNDA4LTMzZGVhYTMyNjkzYi5qcGciLCJ3aWR0aCI6Ijw9MTI4MCJ9XV0sImF1ZCI6WyJ1cm46c2VydmljZTppbWFnZS5vcGVyYXRpb25zIl19.eYBUCwp9F7ArS7uvTXtnotD4AlmAl_tMK1zmkDjTRYU)
(https://images-wixmp-ed30a86b8c4ca887773594c2.wixmp.com/f/735a952a-c690-490c-b07f-2797a8d876fb/djarctn-317cf5e7-ab00-4b4c-90f9-4a20b65322f1.jpg/v1/fit/w_300,h_300,q_70,strp/20250223_141918_by_peacekeeperb_djarctn-150-2x.jpg?token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJzdWIiOiJ1cm46YXBwOjdlMGQxODg5ODIyNjQzNzNhNWYwZDQxNWVhMGQyNmUwIiwiaXNzIjoidXJuOmFwcDo3ZTBkMTg4OTgyMjY0MzczYTVmMGQ0MTVlYTBkMjZlMCIsIm9iaiI6W1t7ImhlaWdodCI6Ijw9OTYwIiwicGF0aCI6IlwvZlwvNzM1YTk1MmEtYzY5MC00OTBjLWIwN2YtMjc5N2E4ZDg3NmZiXC9kamFyY3RuLTMxN2NmNWU3LWFiMDAtNGI0Yy05MGY5LTRhMjBiNjUzMjJmMS5qcGciLCJ3aWR0aCI6Ijw9MTI4MCJ9XV0sImF1ZCI6WyJ1cm46c2VydmljZTppbWFnZS5vcGVyYXRpb25zIl19.4mULUTsefL3x7oAQoDksnDdzKhMDFH126z5nH7w5zvY)
You have one of the ones with the can motor. This is good. They are good candidates for DCC. Here is a post I made on this subject in a previous thread, with a link to a tutorial on installing DCC in this locomotive.
"I have done the DCC conversion on several of these locomotives. I used a Z scale decoder, Digitrax DZ125, because it would fit in the space where the smoke unit sits. My 0-6-0s are the split frame type, and wiring it is pretty straightforward. The track power leads on the decoder go to the frame halves, and the motor leads go to the motor. I soldered mine to the motor brush caps, after removing them from the motor of course. I also removed the tabs that contact the frame halves from the brush caps at the same time.
This site has photos of somebody else doing essentially what i did. Scroll down through the various projects until you find the 0-6-0.
http://girr.org/girr/girr_ho/girr_ho.html#dcc "
Quote from: jward on March 05, 2025, 12:28:48 AMYou have one of the ones with the can motor. This is good. They are good candidates for DCC. Here is a post I made on this subject in a previous thread, with a link to a tutorial on installing DCC in this locomotive.
"I have done the DCC conversion on several of these locomotives. I used a Z scale decoder, Digitrax DZ125, because it would fit in the space where the smoke unit sits. My 0-6-0s are the split frame type, and wiring it is pretty straightforward. The track power leads on the decoder go to the frame halves, and the motor leads go to the motor. I soldered mine to the motor brush caps, after removing them from the motor of course. I also removed the tabs that contact the frame halves from the brush caps at the same time.
This site has photos of somebody else doing essentially what i did. Scroll down through the various projects until you find the 0-6-0.
http://girr.org/girr/girr_ho/girr_ho.html#dcc "
Awesome. I'll look at your tutorial and I really appreciate it.
Ok. Been reading and rereading your tutorial and I'm still lost.
I really need pictures. I solder what to where. I'm very new to this hobby and the terminology is often foreign to me.
But I appreciate the knowledge being shared, I'm just not able (yet) to execute it.
I'll have to pull one of my locomotives out and take a few pics. It's pretty easy to do once you see exactly how. It is similar to one of the older split frame diesels. You have a similar split frame adapted to a steam locomotive.
Quote from: jward on March 07, 2025, 09:25:57 AMI'll have to pull one of my locomotives out and take a few pics. It's pretty easy to do once you see exactly how. It is similar to one of the older split frame diesels. You have a similar split frame adapted to a steam locomotive.
I'd appreciate that.
Ok. I got it apart and have done some wiring and soldering and the motor works. Next step is to reassemble it correctly.
Ok. Motor no longer works. Lol.
Where can I get a replacement motor?