This loco is what could be called a "kitbashing" for the brasilian 1-meter gauge EFVM railroad. That railroad accepts a maximum of 22-ton axle-load. In order to handle its ~180 tons, that loco had to be converted into an 8-axle unit. That's for the same reason that the locomotives that were initially used on that railroad and are derivatives of the EMD SD45 had been converted into DDs and became DD45m, and that their GE Dash 8 and 9s became BBBBs (BB40-8 and BB40-9s). Dom
That's for the same reason that the locomotives that were initially used on that railroad and are derivatives of the EMD SD45 had been converted into DDs and became DD45m, Dom, Makes perfect sense. Thank you for the lesson. Much appreciated. Necessity is the mother of invention.
Digitrax decoder DZ123MO Has anyone been able to get this decoder to work in the new micro-trains SD-40-2. I have tried and tried with no luck. It is starting to make me ask myself why I converted to DCC. I have the new DZ123MO board which has the lights very small mounted right to the board. I also used this same DZ123MO in the GP-35 and GP-9 and it worked great. Now it does not work when I try to mount the same decoder into the SD-40-2 I have even bought the same decoder and tried a second one and it still does not work. When I go to the TC decoder webpage it says there decoder does not work since micro trains modified there chassis. I am starting to think digitrax wont work for the same reason. Makes me mad that Micro Trains said this decoder would work and it doesnt. Does anyone have any ideas if this one will work and how to fix. The only other thing I can think of is to get the DZ125 and hardwire it. If anyone on here has done that can you please post photos of how you did this. Thanks, Bryant Euans
Bryan, dont frustrated. To dcc the SD40 its going to take a little work. First the 123mo its not going to work. With the new tab, its not going to pick up power. We are using the TC decoder and milling the post. We are also thinning the edges of the decoder until it fits. This is what the conversion look like. Almost forgot, welcome to Trainboard.
Ed Turner does it a little differently. He cuts off the top of of the post, but he stilll cut down the the decoder where the power pick up is.
These are the MTL light boards. On the left is for the SD40, and on the right is for the GP35. Note how the power pick up is move from the front to the side.
What are the red things, If he cuts off the top of the post then how will the post touch the contact point. Does he solder a wire or something? I am almost wondering if I could solder a wire to the copper pickups and then solder them to the contact points on the board, think this would work?
I am very unhappy with Micro-Trains SD-40-2. I was told the digitrax decoder would work. I have bought 2 now and neither work. I have wasted a lot of my time trying to get something to work that was supposed to work per the manufacturer. Tomorrow I will order the TCS TZA4 decoder and try that one.
Bryan, the SD40 is problematic for us who want to dcc it, but its a smooth a quiet runner. What did you do to the 123m. Are you sure its damage it. Digitrax used to have a no charge exchange policy on decoders, but I dont know if its still true.
I found Robert Ray installation instructions. Micro-Trains Finally the SD40-2 has arrived - Page 12 - TrainBoard.com
Micro Trains is sending me a new Chassis, I will fix the locomotive back to original shape and just wait for a decoder that will actually work per the decoder manufacturer. Most likely it will be TCS. But currently TCS says on their website nothing will work at the current time. So hopefully they will get something soon.
Unfortunately, some rocket scientist decided to change the post design on the SD40 from the GP35's, even though the chassis (motor and truck housing) is essentially the same. There was no reason for this. So, no, the Digitrax DZ123M0 will not work in it. I think this was a surprise to many so please don't feel singled out. TCS's MZ4A will fit and you can get extremely clear and simple instructions from TCS's website: http://www.tcsdcc.com/Customer_Cont...sis revision/Micro_Train_Cassis_Revision.html .
As I read the TCS instructions the new SD-40 can NOT be fitted with a DCC drop-in board. Am I missing something? ...don
Don I think the TCS positiion is that the MZA4 board is not a drop in, so it is not sanctioned as either the chassis or the board have to be altered to get it to fit. I do not have that officially but it is my guess. Robert Ray has fitted one and I have played with it and I am considering rounding the post so the board fits between the posts and maybe even widening the notch a bit on the top side to wedge the board into the notch. The TCS half circle opening is not wide enough to take the post into the notch with the copper edging around the edge of the notch. When you round the post you only do the top part so the board is still supported on the flat of the lower part of the opening. I think you can achieve the same thing with a file in the upper part of the notch to open the gap and get a better connection to the board. But I have to wait for another pair of MZA4 to arrive before I can confirm this. The notch on the post has been swung around 90 degrees so that it opens inward instead of towards the front of the chassis where there is a finger to stop the board from sliding out.
