Bachmann DCC ready 4-4-0 decoder instal

Donstaff Apr 29, 2023

  1. Donstaff

    Donstaff TrainBoard Member

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    In addition to an older DC version, I have a later DCC ready version of a Bachmann 4-4-0 American. This DCC ready version has an 8-pin plug inside, but none of the decoder manufacturers' decoder finders that I can find list a recommended decoder for this model. Can anyone help me find a decoder with an 8-pin plug that will fit in this loco's tender? Two function would be ok; sound would be even better.
     
  2. MRLdave

    MRLdave TrainBoard Member

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    Got a picture of the tender? I've never seen a DCC ready version. first issue is how the socket is positioned in the tender as well as if there's room for the decoder.
     
  3. Mike C

    Mike C TrainBoard Member

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    Soundtraxx makes an 8 pin plug with a 21 pin socket to fit their sound decoders . HO scale only though . Mike
     
  4. Donstaff

    Donstaff TrainBoard Member

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    Responding to MRLdave,
    Bachmann's website page list the list of choices below. There are 2 listings for 4-4-0 American: 1 DCC & sound and 1 Standard. Under the DCC and sound choice there are images of various complete chassis road names showing wired locos with shells removed. I will try to upload the one for the Pennsylvania chassis w/8 pin plug and one of some sort of adapter with wires.

    All Scale Kit Bashing->
    E-Z App boards
    Locomotive / Tender Speakers
    General Parts & Supplies
    HO Parts->

    |_ 4-4-0 American - DCC & Sound
    |_ 4-4-0 American Standard
     

    Attached Files:

  5. MRLdave

    MRLdave TrainBoard Member

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    Just to verify, we are talking about the HO version? In the first photo, the board in the loco appears to be the DCC board......at least the wiring appears that way but it could also be an intermediate board as well. is there a plug on the wiring between the tender and loco or is it hardwired from the loco to the tender with the plug in the tender? So.......what I would do is get a measurement on the space in your tender where the board would need to go......if you want sound I'm assuming the speaker would need to fit in there as well, so you need to allow for that. Most manufacturers have the dimensions of their decoders listed on their website. Find the decoder that would fit in the space that has an 8 pin connector. Sorry I can't be more helpful, but I don't have a copy of your loco to look at. But the install sounds very similar to the decoder installation in my Fox Valley 4-4-2 in N scale, which I just completed about a month ago.
     
  6. Donstaff

    Donstaff TrainBoard Member

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    It is HO. But I'm still waiting for the second one, that I "have", to arrive from Bachmann. So, when it does arrive, l will take your advice, which I appreciate.
     
  7. Donstaff

    Donstaff TrainBoard Member

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    I got the DCC ready 4-4-0 from Bachmann, but have not had the chance to open up the tender and measure. I have a DIGITRAX SDN136PS that I'd like to show horn in there if possible.
     
  8. Donstaff

    Donstaff TrainBoard Member

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    I finally got around to opening up the upgraded 4-4-0 that I traded in my old standard tender drive 4-4-0 American for to Bachmann Service toward a DCC-ready version. It ran reasonably well on DC so I installed a DIGITRAX SDXN136SP sound decoder. Since the DCC-ready engine was designed for a down-facing round speaker, I had to do a slight bit of exacto knife work to install the decoder's 10x18mm oval speaker. Installation went well and the decoder and stay alive capacitor all fitted inside with no further modifications required.

    I wasn't able to re-set the address, but the engine ran ok on address 3 on a temporary
    oval, powered by my Digitrax Zephyr. After a few minutes of operation, the engine's performance gradually began to deteriorate. Finally, it got to the point of occasionally stopping at full throttle.

    I checked the wheels and found two problems: First, I discovered what appeared to be a very thin, transparent, almost Elmer's glue-like buildup on the two non-traction tired drivers and on the tender wheels. I cleaned the wheels. Second, I observed that the the insulated wheels on the tender's front and back wheels were on opposite sides and discovered that there was no current flow through the tender's rear axels, though they had axel wipes identical to the tender's front axel.

    I haven't checked any further, but I'd appreciate anyone's comments, theories or experiences with the decoder I installed and why my conversion is behaving the way that it is.
     

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