Atlas DCC U25B Locomotives

in2tech Oct 6, 2021

  1. Sumner

    Sumner TrainBoard Member

    2,798
    5,837
    63
    One thing that would help at this point is having a decoder tester. I made one with a 3D printed case but ....



    ... you don't need the 3D printed case. You could make the case from something else.

    [​IMG]

    I have a motor on mine but after reading your adventures I think I might add a second motor. Something that if the decoder hurt it I wouldn't be out much money to replace it. I'll put in a switch that would let me switch between the motor shown and a cheap one if I think there is a chance of damaging it.

    You could put one of these together quickly and cheaply. I put in a cheap speaker but if you aren't going to test sound decoders you don't need that. Some resistors and LED's are all you need to make it. Here is the build link and you don't need the 3D case...

    http://1fatgmc.com/RailRoad/Decoder-1/page-11.html

    Here is a link to another one that is nice .....

    https://n-scale-dcc.blogspot.com/2011/02/building-decoder-tester.html

    Sumner
     
    sidney likes this.
  2. in2tech

    in2tech TrainBoard Member

    2,703
    7,639
    78
    That's amazing but above my skill level at this point. This is gonna sound weird, but it's the cradle the motor is in that got my attention for some strange reason :) I mean after a suggestion I bought those alligator clip wires to test my motors now, but yours is just COOL! I don't know if you rad my threads of wiring my 2' x 4' for DCC and for the momentary switches at the time. Let's say I didn't have a lot of confidence, BUT it all worked to my amazement :) And the Key for me, and this is me only, were the terminal blocks I bought! The splicing and stuff I kept reading made no sense to me and still doesn't. But the simple addition of a terminal block, clicked for me :)

    Can you make me a Motor ONLY tester for me? I'll pay you and take out motors to test just to watch them turn :) half kidding, and half not!

    I have no clue why I think that is so cool? Simple minds, like simple things, such as watching a motor go round and round :)
     
  3. in2tech

    in2tech TrainBoard Member

    2,703
    7,639
    78
    Alright here we go again. What is it with me and locomotives that don't want to work correctly. I swear it's a curse. And away we go... so I got the Kapton tape in, Check, a very nice gentleman here sent me TWO Free decoders that work in the Atlas U25B's, Check, I ordered 2 brand new motors for them a few month's back, Check. Put the Kapton tape on, installed a New motor, tried the original decoder, a Hail Mary so to speak, and nothing but the lights work, no movement at all. Well, this is no problem I now have backup decoders to try. Installed one of them ( we were wondering if I could program it with my Bachmann EZ Command? ). tried it on 3 nothing, except lights working, so I programmed it to 7, ( thinking it would not work, or program? ) but it did program, but guess what.... how did you guess ONLY the lights work. man you are smart.

    Frustrated in Memphis, TN. I'm going to the bar, and I don't even drink :) Dang the bad luck! I'm over it for now, and going to paint the base some more on the C&L as it is actually fun and relaxing. This is NOT! Man I just know I am gonna end up buying some NEW locomotives that I have been looking at, but figured, hey, I'll get all these NEW motors in, install these backup decoders, and rock and roll and save money.

    Time to shop :) I sure hope I am not the only one that gets frustrated with this hobby of ours. Or this hobby, anyway, at times.

    At least there was some good news. Sent a friend TWO Bachmann's DCC F7's to help get him started in DCC & N Scale, and dang if both worked when I thought I had Fried one of them a few years ago :) Sorry, had to end with something, Happy :)
     
    Last edited: Dec 28, 2021
    Moose2013 likes this.
  4. MK

    MK TrainBoard Member

    3,496
    4,791
    82
    Send that friend your U25B and a decoder and ask him to install it for you. :ROFLMAO:

    In all seriousness, your symptoms sound exactly like the two motor tabs are not in contact with the two (motor) pads on the bottom of the decoder.
     
    mtntrainman likes this.
  5. in2tech

    in2tech TrainBoard Member

    2,703
    7,639
    78
    Yeah I am getting more and more convinced that maybe I did NOT fry the decoder as suspected and it is just a simple fix, that I can't figure out. I mean I bought the Magnifying Glasses, the Kapton Tape, etc... I sure hope it is something simple. Maybe if I smack like back in the day of antenna TV's, the old Tube televisions, it will work :) Geez!!! usually when I give myself a break and go back, things are better, usually. We will find out? Of course what should do is try the other U25B that also needs one of the NEW motor's, quiet as a mouse running backwards in a consist, but not forward.

    Already on the way to YOU :) Just kidding! And thanks for the suggestion. I'll check, again!
     
  6. in2tech

    in2tech TrainBoard Member

    2,703
    7,639
    78
    So after many attempts to get the One U25B locomotive working out of the 3 with a NEW motor, etc... as @MK suggested, they or some of them are going to a friend in Siberia to be looked at. So much for the Drop In Decoder being a breeze for me, and installing a new motor, with Kapton, tape, etc.... So I have 3 and I numbered them on the fuel tank. They are number 5, 6, and 7. And the #7 is the first one I was attempting to replace the motor, and now it does not run at all. Locomotive #5 will run all day long backwards in the consist it is on quite as a mouse, reverse it though and squealing starts and it is annoying and loud. So 5 and 7 need NEW motors of which I purchased some time ago. And old trusty #6 just keeps rolling on, runs great, completely quite, ( besides the track noise at times, which is normal ). Think I am gonna send ALL three though to him. Probably time for a tune up on #6 too :)

    People are really nice here. This is the second time a member helped me with installing NEW motors, etc.. The other was a motor for my Bachmann F7 years ago. Thanks to all the kind members here for helping me out in many ways.

    Time to pack up some logo's. And he lives in the USA not Siberia :) I don't think? There will be another post soon about some brand new purchases, I hope? And an item(s) to be Sold!

    Thanks everyone for you help!
     
    mtntrainman and MK like this.
  7. in2tech

    in2tech TrainBoard Member

    2,703
    7,639
    78
    Yeah, a super nice member here has repaired my Two Atlas U25B's, and they will be headed back to me next week I think. I would have never figured all this stuff out with my limited knowledge, bad NEW motor, motor touching frame and shorting it, and some other technical things like setting the power voltage, etc... It was not something simple at all. Makes me feel better. And also as of Monday I can learn to Fry my own decoders with the NCE PowerCab :) And the decoder I thought I fried, this is the second one, is alive again. I'll say one thing about my trusty Bachmann EZ Command Controller, when it detects a short it shuts everything down, thus the reason my two decoders I thought I killed are still working :)

    I still love the ease of use of that thing. And when the nieces come over, and maybe even for me once in awhile. It is getting hooked back up :) It was perfect for me for the 4+ years since I have had it.

    Can we say consist of 3 Atlas U25B's being programmed with the New ( well used, new to me ) NCE PowerCab, times are good :) Since I bought them on Trainboard years ago, I have never had all 3 U25B's running correctly, BUT they were a good price still to this day.

    What nice people here! Thank You all!
     
    mtntrainman likes this.

Share This Page