Folks are always talking about swapping tenders. Would the Bachmann Spectrum USRA Tender PN 89853, be a direct swap on a C&O new Bachmann 2-6-6-2? Not worried about prototype, just want to turn it into an NKP. I dont mind soldering some leads and swapping the board, I just don't want to do chassis mods. Ideally its a body swap, but fom pics, I doubt it.
If you are talking about the H-4 with the 4 axle Vanderbilt tender, it can be an easy swap. As far as swaping it goes, there is a 6 pin plug from the loco to the tender that you unplug. The large C&O Vanderbilt, USRA long, USRA standard and USRA short all have the correct plug to make it an easy swap to DC. Swap or add a decoder if you need DCC.
Thanks Tony Now to try and add to my order, as I wasn't patient enough to hold my order, until I got an answer..... Got any leads on patience?
I picked up a Bachmann USRA short tender, DCC-ready. The tender has a circuit board with a six pin male connector mounted vertically with the pins curved forward. I was going to pair it with a Bachmann 0-8-0. I need a decoder but have been unable to find any thing that seems to work ( would like to avoid soldering if possible, but would if no alternative. Digitrax has a 6-pin decoder designed for European models but it has a male connector. I think I have a lot to learn about these things - hoping someone here can get me going. What have I got here and what do I need to get it working?
The 6 pin plug is for connecting the loco to the tender. You must solder the decoder to the light board in the tender and then run the wires from the tender to the loco. The DCC ready tenders are really intended for their new generation of loco's which all come with the 6 wires between the loco and tender. PS. Bachman doesn't make an 0-8-0. I think you may be thinking of the 0-6-0. If that is the case, you need to issolate the motor from the frame, then run two wires from the motor to the 6 pin plug and 2 wires from the frame pickup. Since it doesn't have a headlight, you don't need to worry about the other two.
You're right, it is an 0-6-0, I have an old Arnold 0-8-0 that I was considering also. I did find a 6 pin female NEM691, but I think that I still have to solder the wires to the pads on the light board? Not sure what I'm doing yet, but I am going to try to figure it out and press on. I bought a Bachmann 4-6-0 as my first venture into DCC and it's fun. Trying to use some old locos until I can afford another. Thanks for you response. As I learn more, I'm sure that I'll be asking again
The decoder needs to be soldered to the pads on the board numbered 1-7. The loco needs to be connected to the 6 pin plug coming off of the board. You can find a pin out of the pads on Bachmann's site. This PDF of the H16-44 board has the same numbering key. http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/dwg/dwgs/N614X_IS001.PDF
