Question Fitting DCX76z decoder into Marklin 0-6-0 chassis

zoldtimer Oct 30, 2013

  1. zoldtimer

    zoldtimer New Member

    2
    0
    4
    Has anyone attempted (or preferably succeeded) in installing the tiny 6.9mm x 6.1mm x 1.7mm CT Elektronics DCX76z DCC decoder into one of the Marklin 0-6-0 shunters, e.g. 8805 or 8864? Love to hear how to do it and what mods are required to fit it in. I've got 2 of each of these locos and unless I can fit DCC to them I won't be able to upgrade the rest of my stock and layout.
     
  2. ZFRANK

    ZFRANK TrainBoard Member

    933
    549
    28
    Check out next youtube film I had seen before, this might help you:


    [video=youtube_share;FxcpnPsevng]http://youtu.be/FxcpnPsevng[/video]
     
  3. zoldtimer

    zoldtimer New Member

    2
    0
    4
    Brilliant. Thanks

    Many thanks. Just hope it'll fit into an 8805 steam loco as well.

    Sorry I couldn't quote your message as apparently I'm not allowed to include links until I'm three days old.
     
  4. shamoo737

    shamoo737 Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

    4,596
    550
    72
    Welcome to Trainboard Oldtimer. I cant help you with the steamer, but you can search on this site for the conversion. I believe Robert Ray used a different decoder, but some of the smaller decoders weren't available couple years ago.
     
  5. markm

    markm TrainBoard Supporter

    804
    241
    21
  6. Z_thek

    Z_thek TrainBoard Member

    536
    7
    28
    I looked and measured the shell of the 8805 and doesn't look too hard. The only issue is tooling. You need a small milling machine, a 1/8" and a 1/32" diameter end mill to machine the inside of the shell. Dremel is not a good idea, because the wall becomes so thin, it can be perforated easily. (I did some modeling before, but I won't trust myself with the Dremel.) The lines of the machining areas are very well defined inside of the shell. There is a recessed rectangular area under the boiler with a small recess for the capacitor and another for the motor bracket. The whole rectangular area upfront of the motor bracket need to be milled out. That's enough for the decoder. You need to cut a very thin acrylic or styrene insulating sheet that loose fit into the recess and fits over the two front upright studs of the chassis' acrylic platform. Glue the insulation sheet to the studs. Slide very thin capton or similar V-shape insulation between the upright portion of wheel wipers and motor brushes, then solder the decoder wires to the appropriate contacts.
    You can take the challenge even further, a couple of holes and a bit more milling, and micro LED lights can be installed into the shell. Good luck!
     

Share This Page