Lets's play 20 questions: 1. Is the LL SD7 reliable enough to warrant a decoder installation? 2. What decoder? 3. What mods are required for such a project?
I bought 2 LL SD7 off E Bay before Christmas. When I got them they were equiped with Dig decoder 0Z120. I have just straight block system and they would not run. After I took the decoders out those two are about the best runners I have. They run slow and smooth. I contacted the seller and he said they ran very well with the decoder and system installed but was converting to HO so was selling off all his N stuff.
I have a LL SD7 and it's a great runner. It pulls 20 cars around a flat surface with ease. I also have a LL GP-20. The GP-20 is supposed to be superior, and it is - but not by as much as I was lead to believe. I like the SD7 so much that I'm looking for another. Now I don't run DCC, so I can't speak for the ease of installing a decoder. But I do want to convert the couplers soon to MT. The MT conversion chart says I should use the 1015 or 1016. Has anyone converted one of these before? How did it go?
Bruce. I have changed 2 LL SD7's to MC couplers. The hardest part was assembling the couplers. If you can get them ready made do it. It was a snap on both of them.
Yeah, the MT 1015 couplers snap in nicely. I had to use the spacer shim they come with to get the height right, but no big deal there... Just MAKE SURE you get the little retaining clip snapped in fully. You should hear a little "snick" sound. I failed to do that on my gp20 (1015 and 1016 couplers come in a 3-pack so I did both my sd7's and my gp20... very convenient I thought!) and it fell out on the track while it was running... not pretty! Took me forever to find the parts again! Not sure on the decoder install... Check out nscalesupply.com or post on the atlas forum too. You should get the info you need. I know none of the Life-Like locos are real easy to convert, but if you can solder and have access to machinist services (if necessary) they aren't rocket science either.
