N Arnold SW1 Loksound 73800 Select Micro install

[Jim Starbuck]

I posted over in the N scale forum but was asked to elaborate so here it is.
I certainly wasn’t the first to do this install but here’s what I did.
To get the shell off, hold the fuel tank and wiggle the hood up until you can get a small screwdriver between the sill and the frame then gently pry the shell up and off.

The stock light board with an integral six pin plug is held down by two screws but neither are current carrying because the trucks are hardwired to the light board.
Unsolder the red and blue motor leads and also the four truck pick up wires. Unscrew the board and lift it off.
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I made a small shelf out of styrene to help route the wires and keep everything out of the rear flywheel.

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Unfortunately that’s the last of the photos I took but it gives a pretty good idea.
The decoder fits the shell nicely width wise and is taped to the chassis as far forward as possible. The speaker is an 8x12 Soberton in a Shapeways (by Wutter) enclosure that fits up in the cab.
Lights are 0603 warm white LEDs with magnet wire leads. I taped the magnet wire to the cab roof and underside of the hood letting the LEDsjust shine at the lens castings. An extra 1” to 1 1/2” of slack in the magnet wire folds down on top of the decoder as the shell is slipped back on.
I used 3k 1/8w SMD resistors on the white and yellow leads and coated the connections with Gallery Glass to insulate them.
The green an purple wires were removed right at the decoder.
Keep all the wire leads as short as possible because it gets pretty busy between the decoder and speaker but it all fits.
I didn’t add any caps but I think there would be room under the speaker by pushing the enclosure farther up into the cab.
I’m going to run this at the Madison WI show next month and see how it does. I may add caps later.

Jim

[Bryn]

Thanks for the write up Jim, great work!

[Jim Starbuck]

Here is a short clip of the slow speed performance.

[Jbub]

Here is a short clip of the slow speed performance.

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Daaayyyyuuummm! That's slow enough to make the HO guys jealous.

[cbroughton67]

@Jim Starbuck That's a fantastic install that I would never have dreamed possible. Thanks to your trail-blazing here, I installed one as well, with the main difference being that I was able to fit a 9x16 speaker in the cab by rounding-off the corners on the enclosure to fit the curve of the cab. SBS4DCC also offers an enclosure for a 9x16 with the SW cab curve built-in.


Have you attempted to install caps, or have you found it unnecessary? Mine seems to need them, but there's no room. I've cleaned the wheels and track but still get a little hiccup here are there. The loco is new, so it could also be in need to some runtime, like the Atlas S2's did.


Thank you again!
Chris


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[Jim Starbuck]

Nicely done Chris!

My SW1 was balky on electrical pickup when new. I throughly cleaned the wheel backs and treads then made sure the wipers were adjusted properly. It did take a fair amount of break in but it runs beautifully now.
I haven’t installed any caps as of yet. I think I could fit them under my speaker enclosure and push the speaker a little farther up into the cab. I’m going to run this at the Mad City show in Madison next month and see how it does. I may add caps later if necessary.

Jim

[Lemosteam]

@cbroughton67 ,  @Jim Starbuck , Could you mill out the frame bottom between the tanks to fit some caps and wire down to them?

(Spookshow image)

[Jim Starbuck]

@Lemosteam  Thanks John,

That’s a definite possibility. Looks like there would be room for at least two.

[cgw]

on my sw1 I installed the caps, speaker and led light in the cab area.    the caps do make a difference.      no need to machine the frame.

[cbroughton67]

As awesome as the 9x16 speaker sounds, I'm going to replace it with a 8x12 to gain some space in the cab for caps. It just cuts out way too much to be usable without them. It's had plenty of run-in time, I've dismantled the trucks, cleaned and adjusted the wipers, cleaned the wheel treads and inner faces, and it's still cutting-out. Fingers crossed that caps will fix it.

[skytop35]

As awesome as the 9x16 speaker sounds, I'm going to replace it with a 8x12 to gain some space in the cab for caps. It just cuts out way too much to be usable without them. It's had plenty of run-in time, I've dismantled the trucks, cleaned and adjusted the wipers, cleaned the wheel treads and inner faces, and it's still cutting-out. Fingers crossed that caps will fix it.

Chris,

Have you checked the wheelsets with an NMRA gauge? I had the same problem and discovered they were all out of gauge (extremely narrow). After adjusting the switcher ran significantly better however I may also choose to add the cap as well.

[cbroughton67]

Chris,

Have you checked the wheelsets with an NMRA gauge? I had the same problem and discovered they were all out of gauge (extremely narrow). After adjusting the switcher ran significantly better however I may also choose to add the cap as well.

That was the first thing I did. It helped, just not enough.

[cbroughton67]

I added some caps tonight. I had to give up my 9x16mm speaker for a 8x12 to make everything fit, but it was so worth it! In exchange for the larger speaker, I was able to fit three 330uF 16v caps under the speaker, and the difference in performance is astounding. I can set the throttle to "1", and it'll crawl down the track, through turnouts and all, with nary a hesitation, flicker of the headlight, or interruption of sound. Wow. I can't wait to do more, now!


Chris

[Jim Starbuck]

That’s excellent Chris.
Did you orient them bookcase style?

[nscalbitz]

Here is a short clip of the slow speed performance.

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Not that I'd ever attempt this- but why does it look skewed rolling on the track?
Good work.
I missed the model entirely since my road had none 
dave