Micro Trains SW1500 DCC conversion

[peteski]

The Following User Says Thank You to peteski For This Useful Post:

Since we both suffered the last time you bashed Kato here, I thought you might realize that I was being facetious.  You are obviously a Kato-basher (for some weird reason).    I, OTOH, just like the majority of N scale modelers think that Kato makes top-quality products (detail-wise, operational and reliability-wise).

I think the problem with the SW1500 is that it was modified in a rush to get it ready to accept decoders. To me that seemed like an afterthought. After all, it is the old Life-Like chassis.

[rrjim1]

Since we both suffered the last time you bashed Kato here, I thought you might realize that I was being facetious.  You are obviously a Kato-basher (for some weird reason).    I, OTOH, just like the majority of N scale modelers think that Kato makes top-quality products (detail-wise, operational and reliability-wise).

I think the problem with the SW1500 is that it was modified in a rush to get it ready to accept decoders. To me that seemed like an afterthought. After all, it is the old Life-Like chassis.

For some weird reason you are a Arnold basher and that is what started the whole fiasco.
This is a post about the MT SW1500, not about Kato.
The problem I had was with the Digitrax decoders, the replacements worked perfect. Even with the Life Like chassis they run really well for a switcher. I'm very happy now with my two locos.
Yes, Kato makes some decent looking locos and they run pretty good even with there old out dated motor!
I don't rate Kato as number one, sorry to disappoint you, I have a right to my opinion, right or wrong, and a lot of model railroaders also share that same opinion.
I did find a way to get my many Kato locos running IMO great, I replaced the motor with a great running Atlas scale speed motor.    

[peteski]

For some weird reason you are a Arnold basher and that is what started the whole fiasco.

Wow!  If calling Arnold's new loco design "old-school" is bashing then I give up.    I won over a dozen Arnold locos (mostly European prototypes).  Not bashing anybody - I just call them as they are.  Anyways, the Life-Like SW1200 chassis is good - just not up to typical Kato quality. 

[GaryHinshaw]

Take it outside guys.

[sp org div]

My TCS drop-in decoder finally arrived for the SW1500 today, and attempted to do the install tonight.
Body shell is pretty tight, and struggled a bit to get it all apart without breaking anything.  Lost one of the smoke stacks for awhile, and bent up the air lines on the fuel tank assembly (one more incident and I think one of the air lines will fall off), then severely bent up a brass pick-up contact on the shell.  So got the decoder in and finally got the shell and details situated for the inaugural run....  Doh!, Short circuit somewhere.  Pulled it all apart again and had the one problem brass pick-up contact break loose from the shell (I suppose will have to hard-wire new leads from the trucks to the decoder pads like we did on the LL SW1200 here).  So after having to disassemble the entire chassis to find the cause, I noted the tape that covers the lower motor lead rubbed through (I suspect while trying to remove the body), and was contacting with the metal frame half.  Kapton tape to the rescue.  Jumper wires with alligators to the frame halves indicate that all is well electrically now with the decoder installed.  Tomorrow will look at trying to fix the contact pick-up issue, and decide if I dare put the shell back on it now, or just wait until I get the rear headlight installed...
Good luck guys.

Jeff
http://espeeoregondivision.blogspot.com/

[bobdobbs]

Got My repaired Decoder back from Digitrax, what service!  6 day turnaround.  The sad thing was it had nothing to do with the decoder, barring the thick solder pads on the red/black decoder pickups, the decoder is flawless.  I would have to say this is the most  ridiculous "DCC Ready" decoder installs I have ever done.  As I said in previous threads, I have hard wired 3 Life Like SW switchers, which are basically the same as this.  Putting the new decoder in and testing the unit  without the shell (using jumpers to the frame since the silly shell mounted contacts preclude testing this loco with the shell off on a programming track), the unit read back loco road number 3, programmed to 2510, took a decoder reset (value 8 to CV8) and a re address no problem..  Put the shell on and it is dead, will not read back address.  Too afraid to put on mainline for fear of another frying.  To make this short, the crap black electrical tape that they use to isolate the motor pick ups from the frame is a sticky mess.  I re did the whole thing with Kapton tape.  Guess what- shell back on, no go.  Finally after testing the driveline while squeezing the frame slightly noticed that the poles of the motor would contact the frame.  I filed the frame around the openings for the poles and finally that solved the problem.  Of course, taking the shell off about 20 times tore one of the contacts off.  I would suggest copious amounts of ACC to re secure the contacts to the shell, trust me this will work, just make sure the ACC is all dry prior to handling or re assembly.  Or hard wiring the truck pick ups to the frame or DCC decoder.  One smoke stack fell off.  Couplers do not swing freely, must do a bit of filing, wheels not in gauge, had to file front and rear pilot since they were striking track at slight grade changes.  Need to paint handrails white.  But you know the thing does run really well.  FINALLY!

[railnerd]

Thanks for sharing your experiences…  I did my install at the PCR meet on Friday.  I checked for shorts between the motor circuit and the frame, and discovered I needed to add some Kapton tape to my SP unit as well.  No big deal, but by following the Digitrax instructions without checking, I would have blown up my decoder as well.

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I was pleasantly surprised that the tiny side firing LED actually works just fine as well:

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