OK, so for two 3 days now I have been trying to create a bloody account on JNS forum and I can't create an account!!!!!!!! AAARGHHHH OK, aside from the other issue I am having, I can not find any pictures or instructions for installing the Kato EM-13 Decoder (part #29-351) in the 800 Tsubame engine car. I can't seem to figure out how to get the floor board up to see the motor and chip! I'm afraid of prying to hard and damaging something.... CAN anyone help? ARRGH Also I saw one brief article people were talking about installing a decoder, but they mention pictures but I DONT SEE Pictures! I went to that users account and only found the picture of the train, not the step by step... ARGH...... frustrating trying to find stuff! Thanks, Jeff
First...I love that train too...its one of the hottest looking Shinkansens IMO. Second, I don't have it, but I used the same instructions (with pictures!) from the Kato 500 to add the Decoder to my Kato Sunrise Express (it turns out the chassis/motor cars are nearly identical). If the 800 is anything like the 500, this post should be able to help. http://www.jnsforum.com/index.php/topic,2548.0.html
The 800 Tsubame from Kato is not a DCC plug and play model - there is no panel below the motor to remove and insert an EM13 decoder. You need to take off the shell from the top, isolate the motor from the pickup strips (easy on this model), then solder wires from the decoder to the strips and motor tabs (in theory you can solder in an EM13 with some spare wire, but it's not making things easy for you like a pre-wired decoder like the DZ125). The end cars are more of a challenge to wire up the lights (you'll need function decoders for both cars if you don't want both forward and reverse lights on all the time). You can find photos of an 800 series decoder install on the jnsforum KATO Decoders
The last poster is correct about the 800 series, it was released before Kato started making their Japanese trains DCC ready. Keep trying to get onto the JNS forum, it is the place to go if you have any interest in Japanese trains. If you are having trouble you might try emailing one of the JNS administrators.
Whoops my reply might have been misleading... I didn't know if the 800 uses the new decoder option, but the link to the post on JNS is for a standard 'hard wire' solution (for the 500) which would work for the 800. Sorry for the confusion.
Thanks for the reply's. I don't mind using another decoder or hardwiring as long as I can do it. I just couldn't find steps for the procedure. I will check out the link you posted. PS - there is no email addres for anyone on JNS UNLESS you are able to login, which is a catch 22. Arrgh
Re the JNS forum, have you ticked the 'I agree to the terms' box at the bottom of the registration page, it's the type of thing I often miss.
Jllaclair - Sorry to hear you are having problems joining the JNS Forum. I'm one of the administrators over there and if you PM me here, I will give you my email address. I have both the Kato & Tomix 800 Shinkansen and they are both great trains, but are very different inside. Most of the Kato Shinkansens are similar, but I have a photo of the 500 taken apart, which I'll post. The shells of the cars have 2 pieces that you need to separate from the chassis by using your finger nail. A lot of members at JNS have done this type of install and can help you out.
Yes, it's one of the other tiny url questions that I think is screwing things up... Been trying for days and keeps telling me I've entered something wrong. Sad to say I m an admin and have been working on networks for 18 years and I can't create an account on this site. At first I thought it was an iPad issue, but still wouldn't work from laptop.
