Kato SD45 mechanism

ritafritz Aug 3, 2004

  1. ritafritz

    ritafritz Suspended

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    Does anyone know if the Kato SD45 mechanism is the same as the SD40. Looks the same to me, but would like confirmation. Want to DCC them and Digitrax does not have decoder listed for this unit.
     
    ritafritz, Aug 3, 2004
    #1
  2. David Leonard

    David Leonard TrainBoard Member

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    If you check the parts numbers on Kato's web site, they list the same 925050 mechanism for both the SD45 and the SD40.
     
    David Leonard, Aug 3, 2004
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  3. Powersteamguy1790

    Powersteamguy1790 Permanently dispatched

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    Ira:

    You can use the decoder that Digitrax has for the SD-40.
     
    Powersteamguy1790, Aug 3, 2004
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  4. LarryMc

    LarryMc TrainBoard Member

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    The Kato SD45 frame is not DCC ready. The latest SD40 run had DCC ready frames and these will fit the SD45 shell.
     
    LarryMc, Aug 3, 2004
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  5. ritafritz

    ritafritz Suspended

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    I'm totally confused due to conflicting replies.
    The engines I have have the following stock numbers.
    SD40 - 178-20U
    and the SD45's
    176-3116
    176-319
    176-316.
    Hope this will help in your replies to answer my question.
     
    ritafritz, Aug 3, 2004
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  6. David Leonard

    David Leonard TrainBoard Member

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    The SD45's were last produced in 1996, and as Larry says, the frame is not DCC ready. An image is available on the Kato web site, along with some other useful information.

    The original SD40's used the same mechanism, but the latest run from a year or so ago uses a revised DCC ready mechanism and frame. I think your SD40 must be one of the older versions. It would be a bit of work to make them DCC ready, but I can't help you with that, since I'm not into DCC.
     
    David Leonard, Aug 3, 2004
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  7. Len

    Len TrainBoard Member

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    I have a pair of SD45's that will need conversion. What degree of pain and suffering am I looking forward to on this job [​IMG] ? Is this one of those loco's where an Aztek frame is the easiest way to go?

    Len
     
    Len, Aug 3, 2004
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  8. LarryMc

    LarryMc TrainBoard Member

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    In the pic below the Kato SD45 frame is on the left, the SD40 frame from their last run is on the right. This SD40 frame will accept the Digitrax DN163K1A decoder. The SD45 frame on the left will not.

    You could purchase the new SD40s and swap the SD45 shells with the SD40s but that is costly.
    [​IMG]
     
    LarryMc, Aug 3, 2004
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  9. N&W

    N&W TrainBoard Member

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    N&W, Aug 4, 2004
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  10. Len

    Len TrainBoard Member

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    A big time thank you for the web page reference. Looks like there will be a little bit of work, and maybe an excuse for a milling table for the drill press. If those frames are made out of run of the mill white metal (zemac?), the moto tool might do just as well.
    Thanks again
    Len
     
    Len, Aug 4, 2004
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  11. ritafritz

    ritafritz Suspended

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    Thanks to all who replied. Len is right I checked the web page references and this will be a bit of a job. Thanks to all for their efforts.
     
    ritafritz, Aug 4, 2004
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