They Said It Couldn't Be Done!

Conversion of the Fleishmann HO Scale ICE Locomotive to DCC

They said it couldn't be done.  Conversion of an older Fleishmann HO Scale ICE locomotive to DCC seemed to be something that hadn't been done before and all internet information indicated that it wasn't possible.  One of our customers obtained the locomotive as a gift and loved how smoothly it operated and wanted it converted to DCC.  We agreed to give it a shot.  Disassembly was a bit challenging without the instructions.  The frame has a large tab that secures the shell at the rear of the locomotive.  After we removed the shell we were astounded at the vertically positioned electric motor that drives the rear truck only.  After studying the motor arrangement and circuit board, with the help of a circuit tester, we were able to figure out the circuitry and diagrammed how current is routed from rail to motor to lights and how the pentagraph enters into the circuiting.  We determined the the circuit board and motor needed minor adjustments to isoloate the motor.  We used an modelers knife to interupt a circuit on both the board and the motor.

Interupt connections here.  Remove wiper from botton of motor.

Interupt circuit and disconnect motor black and blue wires.

Rough sketch of wiring diagram...check and re-check and use a circuit tester!

We removed the wheel contact wiper on the bottom of the motor and set it aside.  It will not be re-installed.  The motor will be driven by the decoder and not from the rails.  Also we placed a piece of electrical tape on the frame where the circuit board contacts touch.  Now the board, frame and motor are isolated.  Rail power is brought to the board and that is where we soldered the Digitrax decoder red and black wires.  We carefully soldered the orange and gray wires to the motor contacts.  We placed the unit on our test track and....success!  The locomotive responded to address 3.  Now all that's left is to install the white and red lamps which will involve enlargening the existing lamp holes to power them directly from the decoder.  We'll have to isolate the lamps from the frame and will not use the lamp contact board.  We'll update this article once that is done.  Visit our YouTube channel to see the unit on our test track! 

Stay tuned!

Track Cleaning Techniques

I've found that the best way to clean track comes down to two techniques.

1. When locomotives first begin to stall or stop for no reason I break out the Centerline track cleaning car.  I use "Goo Gone" on the roller on Handiwipe stripes cut to fit.  This technique works wonders for general maintenance of the track. The Centerline device also cleans the wheels of the cars and locomotives.  i typically put the car on the front of my maintenance train.  I use a second Centerline car with a dry roller at the end of my short maintenance train.

2.  I also use the Brite Boy track cleaning bar for more stubborn dirty track areas.  I use the Centerline car afterwards because the bar can spread dirt if not kept clean. I try to only buy the bars that feel more like an eraser than a sanding bar.  The ones that feel more like a sanding bar spread the residue.