Hi everyone, I went to install more dcc decoders tonight and ran into my first issue in the last 11 I've done. Layout is N scale. The problem is with a Kato SD-70ACe using a Digitrax DN163K1C decoder. I've followed all of the instructions using digitrax, kato and TCS procedures to make sure I didn't miss something. The locomotive has been programmed, all lights work and it runs both fwd and reverse with the shell off. As soon as the shell goes on it doesn't move. Lights still work and it changes direction but no movement. I can put the shell on almost all the way and it moves but that final click is causing something to stop it. I've clipped the radiator tabs inside the shell as recommended and the entire underside of the decoder has kapton tape and the sides where the tabs are (as seen in pics). Has anyone else had this issue or have any suggestions? My references are below. http://www.tcsdcc.com/Customer_Content/Installation_Pictures/N_Scale/Kato/SD70ACe/EMD_SD70ACe.html https://www.katousa.com/N/SD70ACe/maint/DCC.html Thanks in advance, Steve Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
What is happening is the shell is probably pushing the motor contact away from the decoder tab. It is most likely on the side you pictured, where the motor contact is facing down. Bend the decoder tab inwards as far as you can to increase the contact. If that doesn't work, just solder the two together with a small drop of solder.
Thanks for the feedback, I'll give that a try today. Didn't think about the shell pushing down and breaking contact on the motor tabs. It's so frustrating because I couldn't figure it out last night... I even put a piece of foam under the front of the decoder to ensure good contact remains in the front. Steve Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Sometimes you just have to step back when you've run out of options and rethink it the next day. So this morning I was looking at the suggestions and the locomotive to see if I could see contact being broken but none.... I noticed inside the shell there are a couple pieces of plastic from the mold that stick out just about where the motor parts would turn (not the radiator tabs I already trimmed as directed in the installation instructions). I proceeded to gently push the inside of the shell outward on both sides where the motors would turn. Tried again and it worked with the shell installed! Hope this helps others, thanks for the help. UP SD-70ACe 8512 joining a pair of UP ES44AC's after getting some maintenance repairs: Steve Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
