Yes, those darn DZ123MO decoders, the FILO principle in action: First order In, Last to be shipped Out!
Robert, Gabe may pose a question on here regarding decoders, but I'll ask one first...........does the MO 123 work in the SDs or is the TS the best way to go?
I mill the chasiss and make sure nothing but the pads are touching only the post, but I am still getting a short.
Loren, either works will. The Digitrax DZ123M0 (<--- that's a zero) will drop in but you need to slightly file the rear notch a bit more to the rear. The TCS MZA4 also will drop in without Rob's grind job. His chassis must have been way too tight (we all know about tight chassis ). If it doesn't press down over the posts, simply slightly loosen the chassis screws, spread the upper frame just enough to press the board in, squeeze the upper frame and tighten the screws slightly, until there is tension. DON"T OVERTIGHTEN ! I have done 6 of them with know problems at all. Took me longer to put the springs on. Note: I found out that the SD-40 posts are NOT in the same location as the GP35, even though everything else is essentially the same. What rocket scientist was thinking this ??? SO . . . you CANNOT use the Digitrax decoder in the SD40 !!! Only the TCS MZA4. See: http://www.tcsdcc.com/Customer_Content/Installation_Pictures/Z_Scale/MTL/Micro%20Train%20Chassis%20revision/Micro_Train_Cassis_Revision.html .
Did I forget to send you something Don? If so I'm sorry, just email me and I'll send it. With over a dozen special requests from people a month, a full time day job, an average of 10 new products a year with instructions released, the BAZ functions, and the regular compliment of honey-do's, I am bound to forget a lot of requests. Example: I was working on Ed Turners custom decal designs, while burning the new 73' centerbeam car releases when the phone rang and it was Tim B. asking if I got his package in the mail yet. Just then someone knocked at the door, and it was Hien Nguyen asking if I had finished the SD45 elephant ears yet, and that he needed 6 more kits, as well as the SD40-2 BNSF Swoosh Decals. We made those Swoosh decals, and I finished the 73' cars and shipped them, but guess what... I just remembered Ed Turner's decal sets this morning... But I am in the middle of finishing the design of the new MTL kit, and have to get the sample built ready to ship Monday. So I figure I must have accidently forget a person's project at least every other month, which makes 6 people that are upset with me a year, times 7 years of custom projects = 21 people that are dissapointed with my performance to date. And guess what... I honestly forget who they all are? Probably half of them are the most vocal people on the forums, and some will remain quiet thinking they are un-important to me (it's not true, each and every person is JUST AS IMPORTANT as the next guy, I just forgot), some of them have developed negative opinions of me (I hope they read this and understand, then email and inquire about their forgotten projects), and some, who find themselves in the same situation as myself like Tim B., Michael H., Eddie S., David F., and many, many others, completely understand and will remind me again at a later date. I'm busy, very busy, but never too busy to help a fellow modeler... Just not as fast as I would like to be.
Yeah, and I'm working on laying track and wiring his module !!! But I don't mind beacause after this weekend, he won't have time for anyone as he starts super detailing this logging operations module, a new home to all those center beams and woodchip cars he's been stockpiling over the year. Going to be a sweet looking module ! .
Always get your multi-meter out and check for a short circuit between the orange and gray wires (or the motor wires in this case) I FOUND A FLAW... The cast frames have paper thin flashing around the motor terminal openings that need to be removed with an exacto blade! The springs touch the frames. It don't hurt DC operation any, but is a decoder killer! Before Flash Removal, I measured a 0 ohm short across the motor terminals: Left: Right: Then I used a new sharp #11 exacto to cut the paper thin flash away, and gently bent the motor tabs so they would not touch anything: Left: Right: Then I re-measured with my meter, and now instead of 0 ohms, I have 55 ohms across the motor terminals. Short solved, loco runs great!
Couldn't you stick some of that orange decoder tape behind the springs? Just an idea, I know absolutely nothing about decoders.
Robert, If you like I'll tell all those disgruntled folks your address and then some Saturday night they can all show up and bring tar and feathers and have a party with you as guest of honor. ) As Jeff mentioned, Robert's new lumber related module is going to be one beautiful module with new structures and a delight to see. Karin and I saw it last weekend when visiiting Robert. And Jeff, you know perfectly well that you get a "natural high" every time you get a soldering iron in your hands, so I don't feel too badly for you helping Robert out. In defense of Robert and every other manufacturer of custom work, I can easily relate to the time delay on delivering product. There is an old saying that if you want something done, ask a busy person because they know how to get the job done. Unfortunately, the busy people are so over booked that delays are inevitable. I took almost 10 months to make a tree order for two brothers. Don's friendly jab at me was in relation to a project he began months ago and though it does not directly involve me, I am aware of the job description and the guy doing the work is over loaded most of the time as it is. Frustrating I know, but it just can't be helped. Robert is truly over booked and his forgetfullness is very human. Shucks, I forget that I'm carrying around my pencil on my ear while asking Karin if she's seen my pencil? I wish we could all get what we want, when we want, and how we want.......but it is an imperfect world so it is bound to cause delays and disappointments many time. Part of the maddening crowd,
Just posting a little surprice finding. My AZL SD70 Flags outruns the MTL SD40 under dcc conditions, and both has the TCS decoder.
Have to conserve funds, and $10 per loco just for etched SS fans is too high, so these locos get the raster etched Parchment treatment instead: We have to talk to one of the etch guys to make us up a super detail kit for the SD40-2. We want everything on the same etch sheet... 5 fans, windshield wipers, lift rings, preformed grabs, cut levers, MU hoses and cables, ice skating blade antenna, etc!
Etched Parchment ??? You mean you've engraved paper and glued this over the fans? What kind of paper is that? Ben
Yes, it's .007" thick Parchment Cardstock. It rasters as good as the best chemical etch in stainless if I use my 1.5" lens. Once I spray a shot of ureathane on the parchment, it is plasticized pretty good. It'd very stiff, and I tried to punch them through with my fingers, and the held up pretty good. I'll finish the drawings this week Tim. I think that it needs to be thin material to etch clean though.
Hi Rob, I'm with you! Plan stainless steel, fans w/o centerplate please and especially lots ob grab irons on your template, that s...... me the most with the details you get at the moment: you can detail 2 locos with grab irons and 10 locos with mirrors from one kit.... BTW: finally I got my SD40-2s too, after the long flight they are already relaxing in alcohol....
