Finally the SD40-2 has arrived

**shamoo737** · February 24th, 2010, 12:00 PM

These are the MTL light boards. On the left is for the SD40, and on the right is for the GP35. Note how the power pick up is move from the front to the side.

**bryanteuans** · February 24th, 2010, 04:02 PM

What are the red things, If he cuts off the top of the post then how will the post touch the contact point. Does he solder a wire or something? I am almost wondering if I could solder a wire to the copper pickups and then solder them to the contact points on the board, think this would work?

**shamoo737** · February 24th, 2010, 04:34 PM

Bryan, no soldering is require. The TC board picks up power from the side of the post.

**bryanteuans** · February 25th, 2010, 04:33 AM

I am very unhappy with Micro-Trains SD-40-2. I was told the digitrax decoder would work. I have bought 2 now and neither work. I have wasted a lot of my time trying to get something to work that was supposed to work per the manufacturer. Tomorrow I will order the TCS TZA4 decoder and try that one.

**shamoo737** · February 25th, 2010, 02:47 PM

Bryan, the SD40 is problematic for us who want to dcc it, but its a smooth a quiet runner. What did you do to the 123m. Are you sure its damage it. Digitrax used to have a no charge exchange policy on decoders, but I dont know if its still true.

**shamoo737** · February 25th, 2010, 02:59 PM

I found Robert Ray installation instructions. Micro-Trains Finally the SD40-2 has arrived - Page 12 - TrainBoard.com

**bryanteuans** · February 25th, 2010, 04:02 PM

Micro Trains is sending me a new Chassis, I will fix the locomotive back to original shape and just wait for a decoder that will actually work per the decoder manufacturer. Most likely it will be TCS. But currently TCS says on their website nothing will work at the current time. So hopefully they will get something soon.

**SJ Z-man** · February 25th, 2010, 04:45 PM

Unfortunately, some rocket scientist decided to change the post design on the SD40 from the GP35's, even though the chassis (motor and truck housing) is essentially the same. There was no reason for this. So, no, the Digitrax DZ123M0 will not work in it. I think this was a surprise to many so please don't feel singled out. TCS's MZ4A will fit and you can get extremely clear and simple instructions from TCS's website:

http://www.tcsdcc.com/Customer_Conte..._Revision.html
.

**Don A** · February 25th, 2010, 06:09 PM

Originally Posted by SJ Z-man

Unfortunately, some rocket scientist decided to change the post design on the SD40 from the GP35's, even though the chassis (motor and truck housing) is essentially the same. There was no reason for this. So, no, the Digitrax DZ123M0 will not work in it. I think this was a surprise to many so please don't feel singled out. TCS's MZ4A will fit and you can get extremely clear and simple instructions from TCS's website:

http://www.tcsdcc.com/Customer_Conte..._Revision.html
.

As I read the TCS instructions the new SD-40 can NOT be fitted with a DCC drop-in board. Am I missing something?

...don

**Garth Hamilton** · February 25th, 2010, 10:06 PM

Originally Posted by Don A

As I read the TCS instructions the new SD-40 can NOT be fitted with a DCC drop-in board. Am I missing something?

...don

Don

I think the TCS positiion is that the MZA4 board is not a drop in, so it is not sanctioned as either the chassis or the board have to be altered to get it to fit. I do not have that officially but it is my guess.

Robert Ray has fitted one and I have played with it and I am considering rounding the post so the board fits between the posts and maybe even widening the notch a bit on the top side to wedge the board into the notch.

The TCS half circle opening is not wide enough to take the post into the notch with the copper edging around the edge of the notch. When you round the post you only do the top part so the board is still supported on the flat of the lower part of the opening. I think you can achieve the same thing with a file in the upper part of the notch to open the gap and get a better connection to the board. But I have to wait for another pair of MZA4 to arrive before I can confirm this.

The notch on the post has been swung around 90 degrees so that it opens inward instead of towards the front of the chassis where there is a finger to stop the board from sliding out.