I just got some new N scale Kato SD40's and they are supposed to be DCC ready, but have not seen any reference to a drop in replacement. (Heck, I have not even had the shells off yet). Has anyone tried a Digitrax drop in? Harold
I don't have one but the Digitrax DN 149K2 is supposed to fit. Check Digitrax site or Tony's Train Exchange.
I had checked both sites but didn't see anything about it. I am not saying that I didn't miss it somewhere,.. Harold
They show the Kato SD40-2 using the Digitrax DN 149K2 at Tony's. Tony's also is selling the Kato SD40 with decoder installed, so they are dropping in something. I'd e-mail Digitrax to be sure it it the same. Here is an Exploded View of the Kato SD40-2 that you can compare part numbers of the frame with the diagram that came with your SD40 and if the frame part numbers are the same it's a sure thing.
O.K.... I could not stand the suspense any longer I pulled the shell on a Kato SD40-2 and compared it to my new Kato SD40. Guess what? It appears that the are the exact same light module (same Kato part #) with the exception that the newer unit has white LED's. So I guess the same Digitrax decoder will fit The frames look exactly the same EXCEPT the SD40 is slightly shorter and does carry different Kato part #'s. I used the same methodology to convert my Kato SD80's to DCC before there was a "recommended" Digitrax decoder: I noticed the light module appeared familiar, so I found that they were the same part # as in my Kato RSC2's (except the LED leads were much longer,,,, ) I plucked the DN148K decoders out of my RSC2's and installed them in my SD80's : Voila! A perfect fit! Harold
