Thomas has trouble on my Atlas Code 100 layout at switches.  Why, because sometimes when Thomas goes over this, one  wheel gets raised up a bit while the other two are on the insulated frog. 

I pulled out Thomas and James after 6 - 7 months of not running them at all.  Having problems getting them to go at all.  The big diesels run just fine on my track, and the track was cleaned today.  Thomas is running a bit better now, but James is hardly moving.

I am still trying to figure it all out myself.

I need advice on cleaning and lubricating, Thomas, James, Percy, Emily etc.  It seems if we do not run them for a few months on the layout (permanent layout) they do no run very good.

Any insights on type of cleaners or lubricants I should use on these?

The track has been cleaned and the larger HO diesels are running fine.

I have installed decoders in several of the Thomas series engines.  Thomas, James, Percy, and Emily.
Thomas, and Percy are easy. their tops (cab) pop off and their is plenty of room for a decoder.  James requires more taking apart, but has room for a decoder as well.  Emily was a real pain, and almost no room. I put in a digitrax DZ123 decoder just above the front wheels. However I have blown a decoder in emily.  Not sure why.  Have replaced it. 

I have also installed decoders in SD40 Bachmann engines of various road names with no problem. There seems to be room right on top and you can tape the decoder to the logic board.

But as advised, none of these engines have had decoder plugs in them. This means, cutting wires, soldering, and keeping track of all those darn little screws.  My kids really love running the Thomas engines  on our railroad and having individual control. DCC is so nice!  Easy for the kids to use with multiple trains.

Kevin

I have Several Thomas Engines, (Thomas, James, Percy, Emily) and have put decoders in all of them.  Emily is not the easiest to put a decoder in.  All of these will require you to take the loco apart. With Thomas and Percy you can simply pop the top off.  You have to cut wires and solder to install decoders.  So unless you have some experience doing this, have someone do it for you.  Find a local train club.  There will be experts there. if you have model train dealers in your area, they can do it for you.  Some will install very cheap if you buy the decoder from them. 

Bachmann makes a nice DCC controller.  http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/products.php?act=viewProd&productId=1453


I use the Digitrax model.  http://www.digitrax.com/menu_startersets.php

You can purchase many locos with decoders already installed, but the Thomas series do not have decoders or slots to install decoders.  You are on your own for those.

I would have to agree that you should box it up and store it away.  When I was twelve (late 1970s) I received the TYCO sprit of 76 train set. I loved it.  Well after many years it ended up boxed up and put away.  After I was married and my parents sold their home, they presented me with a box with my train stuff in it.  There was my first train set.  It made my day, and got me back into the hobby. 

So do not give up.  We all go through cycles in our lives when we have to put school, family, and other things first.  But it is always fun to get back to the fun things like trains.

Kevin

The Underset coupler does do the trick.  The Bachmann rolling stock seem to be about 1/2 copler height to low, so that lines them up about perfect.



I have not tried making my own washers, but that is another excellent thought. 

And I have been using needle nose to bend the trip pins a bit.  I find that difficult to do, as if I am not careful it bends the ez-mate couplers as well. 

On some of them I have had to bend the trip pins, even after getting the coupler height right.  I also found you can sometimes push the bin back up into the coupler.  The end sticks up out of the coupler, but you can trim it off.

Thanks for your tips and ideas.  I have not looked to see if Kadee has other washers available.  I may give the make my own washers a try today.

Two hobby stores in town, but neither carys a half way decent line of kadee stuff, but the one has an excellent supply of styrene.

-K

Have 4 or 5 Bachmann rolling stock purchased in December.  I noticed that they had various problems going through turnouts.  The coupler hoses, or the magnetic part that hangs low to the track were getting caught up on turnouts sometimes causing derailments.  Furthermore they would touch or hit the magnets of the uncouplers in my yard. 

I checked them against a Kadee # 205 Coupler Height Guage and the couplers were low on  every one of them.   No wonder they are having problems.  My Athern and other rolling stock seem to be ok.

Is this typical of Bachmann Rolling stock?  What is the best way to fix them? The kadee washers I have do not fit over the plastic flange on the bottom of the car to give it lift. 

-K

I was able to successfully install a decoder in Emily today.  It was not easy, as there is almost no room to do it.

I used a Digitrax DZ123 decoder.  I installed the decoder in the front under the mechanism that moves the eyes.  Then ran the wires to the back up over the top being careful not to get the wires into the gears.

Emily is a solid piece inside.  An interesting design, but very good. 

I wish Bachmann would consider making decoder installation easier in these engines. Yes they may be for kids, but I have chosen to use DCC for my kids.  They love to be able to run multiple trains on the same track.

Kevin

Quote from: Toby722 on December 11, 2007, 08:35:18 PM
You know shes out now dont you.

Where? 

Mid December. so plus or minus a few days from the 15th.  That means the 12th should be near the start of Mid December and the 18th would be the end of mid December. 

Anyone have an HO Bachmann Emily yet? 

I found the answer to this thanks to some info from Bachmann.  The GE 44 ton swithcher has a 7 solder holes on the edge of the small circuit board.  If you lift the circuit board out, on the bottom of the board near each hole is a number.  Put on the magnifiers for these.  I would of never known they were there.

Anyway they are numbered 1 - 8, there is no 3.

Those do correspond to the NMRA Plug and Color Code. 
1 - Orange  Motor Terminal 1
2 - Functional Output B rear headlight Yellow
4 - Left rail pickup  Black
5 - Motor Terminal 2 Gray
6 - Function output A front headlight White
7 - Function positive common BLUE
8 - Right rail pickup  Red

My Digitrax DZ123 matches up just great.
Thanks to standards.

And Thanks John for your link as well.  Great picture.

Kevin

Thanks for the tips,

now to figure out the pinout of the solder pads.  Hopefully I can do that than have to clip the wires from the pickup - motor - and lights, and figure that all out. 

-Thanks again everyone,

-K

I have a Spectrum GE 44 Ton Switcher that says DCC ready.  Taking the shell off and looking at the small circuit board, there is not a 8 pin connector.  There appears to be a 6 pin edge connector on one side of this card.  Is this the connector for the decoder?
If so are there specific decoders for this unit with this connector on it?

If not does anyone know the pinout of the edge connector?

There were no instructions with the unit on decoder installation or pinout for the edge connector. 

I have experience installing Digitrax decoders (soldering) into several locos.

Thanks,

Kevin