Quote from: locochuck on September 27, 2008, 12:25:45 PM
ok, the copper wires that you are talking about is the one that on the tender connected to the loco's drawbar holding pin right? and where is the best place to put the decoder? according to my diagram it show to put it at the end of the loco's cab by removing the metal weight and insulator plate. and also what's the best soldering tool to use? i have 1 but it's a does'nt have a pointed tip it has a u shape tip would that be ok to use? i should probably get a smaller type of a soldering tool so it would'nt get the wires too hot. right? by the way what is pcb? and what type of decoder should i get? i don't want one with sounds since i'm deaf. i ' m in the process of getting a zephyr digitrax command control basic set. any info would help. thanks Chuck
Okay, we have a 'freshman' in the house!
![Smiley :)](https://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/board/Smileys/default/smiley.gif)
While I was doing a little research to give you a better to your questions, I discovered that the 2-6-6-2 was produced before Bachmann started putting electronics in the tender. Sooo... we have a different ballgame here! BTW, PCB is short for printed circuit board.
Before you get in over your head:
Put your soldering gun away, it will be your worst enemy while working with delicate electronics. It IS possible to buy an inexpensive soldering iron in the 20-30 watt range, but I've yet to find one worth buying.
My recommendation is to buy a temperature controlled iron. They can be had for less than $40, and will be invaluable for installing decoders, soldering track, and many other things around the layout. I'm not trying to be snobbish here, just fact learned over a lot of years. Buy the smallest diameter rosin core solder that you can find. You don't want silver solder, it requires too much heat to work well with electronics. Buy a container of rosin *NOT* acid flux to tin the wires, rails, and other stuff prior to soldering. It is available in liquid and paste forms. I personally use paste because I've had a tin of it for a lot of years, and I'm basically a cheap SOB.
Dig up some small diameter wire to practice your soldering skills. REALLY small stuff like you might find in an old mouse cord, or whatever. Warm your iron, apply a tiny bit of flux to the two parts you will be joining, the use the iron to heat the wire(s) enough that the solder will flow when you touch it to the wire. Then you can position your wire(s), slide on a piece of heat shrink, and again apply the iron to the wire(s) *just* until the solder melts. Practice until you feel confident with your new skill.
If I haven't lost you yet, go here for a good set of instructions on installing a decoder in the 2-6-6-2:
http://www.tcsdcc.com/decoderpics/Bachman%20N%20scale%20USRA%202-6-6-2/bachman_n_scale_usra_2_6_6_2.htm as Taz previously pointed out.
Read the instructions several times before you even think of opening up your engine. Work carefully, and everything will work out okay!