So I did my first installation in a pair of Kato SD70Ms. Previously I paid the retailer to install them. Anyway, I used Digitrax decoders. I used some Kapton tape on the frame and then when I tried to slide the board in it would not go in all the way. The nose side went under somewhat, but not enough for the rear end to be under the clips. I pushed with all my might and could not get it to budge. It might be worth mentioning that the decoder came in Digitrax's new packaging and it had white LEDs instead of orange. I say it's worth mentioning because I took apart another engine I have to take out its older decoder. It slid right into both engines I was trying to install the new board. It slid in with ease. I then took the new board and tried putting it into the older loco and I had the same problem of it not going in all the way. I put it on the track with the board in partially and it worked fine...just wondering if anyone else has had this issue and if it could possibly be a new batch that's too thick in the contact area for the Kato frame. Oh and to put in perspective how hard I was trying to slide the board in I split 2 of my fingernails.
Dave, like you said, it does sound like the new decoder board is a bit thicker. You could take and sand some of the new board down under the front tabs to make that area a bit thinner, but don't sand too far, just enough to get the back to go in. But then the back could be too thick also and would take the same sanding treatment. How tight is the fronts? You could just leave the fronts in, but I wouldn't recommend it. If it were mine, I'd sand the tabs thinner. -Mike
The boards aren't thicker, they are actually thinner and require some solder to actually allow them to be thick enough to make good contact with the frame. More then likely what the problem is, is there is excess pc board still on the decoder that needs to be trimmed or filed down. Once it is filed down it will go in all the way. Also the nice thing with the new Digitrax decoders for Kato they have a small hole in the front of the board that is useful for putting in a small screw driver and using that to slide it in all the way. Right out of the package: After trimming:
the excess board mavrick is referring to is (IMHO) a quality control issue that digitrax has failed to address. very frustrating
Wow this is an interesting development...when did Digitrax change this decoder? I have installed probably close to 10 in SD70MACs & AC4400s and they were a piece of cake. Jamie
I got five like these last March; which reminds me, due to work constraints I only got around to installing them recently - I really must get my finger out and send 2 of them back to Digitrax under warranty, because the locos only travel in reverse! :tb-mad:
Mavrick hit the nail on the head I believe. It's funny because I noticed those "nubs" before installing, but as these were my first I never thought those to be any different from normal. It's not a HUGE deal, but for a product that is specifically made to be easy as pie to install they need to fix whatever manufacturing issues they are having. Jamie - Not sure when they changed. I only know decoders I got from a retailer a year or so ago had amber LEDs and these have whites. Also I think the packaging used to be a red construction paper label at the top. Now it's a full color card stock and it has their new location's info on it from when they moved here to Florida.
