Bachmann EMD FT-B

Scale:
HO Scale


This installation uses the following decoder:

T1



This installation of TCS T1 Decoder is for HO Scale Bachmann EMD FT-B and was performed by A.G.

The two upper pictures show the beautiful Bachmann EMD FT-B with its shell on prior the TCS T1 decoder installation.
The two upper pictures show the beautiful Bachmann EMD FT-B with its shell on prior the TCS T1 decoder installation.
Remove four phillips screws that are marked in red. Grasping the shell by the solid area between the grills, lift the shell straight up and off of the chassis.
Remove four phillips screws that are marked in red. Grasping the shell by the solid area between the grills, lift the shell straight up and off of the chassis.
Here is a picture of the locomotive with its shell removed.
Here is a picture of the locomotive with its shell removed.
De-solder all wires from the top motor tab.
De-solder all wires from the top motor tab.
Here is a close-up picture of the top motor pad after the wires removal.
Here is a close-up picture of the top motor pad after the wires removal.
The next step will be to remove the motor from the chassis. In order to do that we need to remove the fuel tank first. Using Phillips screw driver remove two screws that hold fuel tank and motor/chassis together.
The next step will be to remove the motor from the chassis. In order to do that we need to remove the fuel tank first. Using Phillips screw driver remove two screws that hold fuel tank and motor/chassis together.
Remove the motor together with its cage from the chassis simply by pulling it up.
Remove the motor together with its cage from the chassis simply by pulling it up.
The bottom tab of the motor is positive so using the harness supplied with the T1 decoder, solder its orange wire to the bottom tab of the motor as shown in the picture above.
The bottom tab of the motor is positive so using the harness supplied with the T1 decoder, solder its orange wire to the bottom tab of the motor as shown in the picture above.
Remove the front and rear trucks by unscrewing the Phillips screw (circled in red).
Remove the front and rear trucks by unscrewing the Phillips screw (circled in red).
Gently pull both trucks down.
Gently pull both trucks down.
Gently and carefully clip the chassis wiper off as shown in the picture above. Do this for the front and the rear trucks.
Gently and carefully clip the chassis wiper off as shown in the picture above. Do this for the front and the rear trucks.
Using the X-acto knife, gently scratch the protecting paint off of the copper tabs so that you can solder the wire to it as shown above. Repeat this for both rear and front trucks.
Using the X-acto knife, gently scratch the protecting paint off of the copper tabs so that you can solder the wire to it as shown above. Repeat this for both rear and front trucks.
Here is a picture of the proper power pick-up wire installation.
Here is a picture of the proper power pick-up wire installation.
Place both trucks back on the chassis and re-fit the retaining screws. Place wires in the way that is shown above.
Place both trucks back on the chassis and re-fit the retaining screws. Place wires in the way that is shown above.
Solder the gray wire of the harness that came with the decoder to the top copper tab of the engine. Some black, electrical tape was used to isolate the orange wire from the chassis.
Solder the gray wire of the harness that came with the decoder to the top copper tab of the engine. Some black, electrical tape was used to isolate the orange wire from the chassis.
Place the motor back in the chassis and connect driving couplers.
Place the motor back in the chassis and connect driving couplers.
Here is a close-up picture of the motor assembly.
Here is a close-up picture of the motor assembly.
Bridge both black motor pick-up wires as shown in the picture above.
Bridge both black motor pick-up wires as shown in the picture above.
And than solder them to the red wire of the harness that came with the decoder. Isolate the connection. Do the same for the other side of the chassis - solder both power pick-up wires (red ones in our example) and connect them to the black wire of the harness that came with the decoder. Isolate the connection.
And than solder them to the red wire of the harness that came with the decoder. Isolate the connection. Do the same for the other side of the chassis - solder both power pick-up wires (red ones in our example) and connect them to the black wire of the harness that came with the decoder. Isolate the connection.
Plug the TCS T1 Decoder. Some black electrical tape was used to fix the decoder in its place. Re-attach the shell and the locomotive is ready to run.
Plug the TCS T1 Decoder. Some black electrical tape was used to fix the decoder in its place. Re-attach the shell and the locomotive is ready to run.

Important Soldering Tip

Please do not use any flux either liquid or paste on the mother board. Over time, the acidic properties of liquid or paste flux will begin eating away at the fiberglass PCB and will damage it. Use only Rosin-core solder or no-clean flux approved for electronics use.

TCS recommends the use of Kester "44" Sn63 Pb37, .015" diameter Rosin-core solder. Kester part number 24-6337-0007.

You can order this solder from the following retailers:
Digikey - PN:KE1110-ND
Techni-Tool - PN:488SO6775

Other solder tips

When stripping wire, only strip a tiny little bit of the insulation. Strip no more than a 1/32 of an inch. When the wire gets tinned with solder, the insulation will shrink back more. Try to not expose any more wire than half the length of the solder pad at most. In no case should solder or exposed wire wire ever be outside the boundary of the the solder pad you are attaching a wire to.
Click here for important information on properly Stripping and Tinning wire