Bachmann Spectrum Baldwin Ten Wheeler 4-6-0

Scale:
HO Scale


WOWKit used in this installation

WSK-BAC-8

Which includes the following items:

Decoder
Motherboard

B-MB8

Speaker Kit


This installation is for an HO Scale Bachmann Spectrum 4-6-0 using a TCS WOW121 Steam Decoder, B-MB8 Motherboard with built in Keep Alive® and 20mm WOWSpeaker.

Bachmann Spectrum 4-6-0 Steam prior to installation.
Bachmann Spectrum 4-6-0 Steam prior to installation.
To begin this installation, separate the locomotive from the tender by disconnecting the two plugs located under the rear of the locomotive as highlighted above in red.
To begin this installation, separate the locomotive from the tender by disconnecting the two plugs located under the rear of the locomotive as highlighted above in red.
To remove the shell from the tender, first remove the two screws highlighted above in red, one from the coupler and the other in the middle of the shell underneath the truck assembly.
To remove the shell from the tender, first remove the two screws highlighted above in red, one from the coupler and the other in the middle of the shell underneath the truck assembly.
Shown with the shell off. Remove the single screw highlighted above and set it aside for reinstallation.
Shown with the shell off. Remove the single screw highlighted above and set it aside for reinstallation.
The wire leads shown connected to the original lighting board. Make a note of the function of these wires and their location. Disconnect these wire leads and remove the board from the tender chassis. Save this screw for installation of the new motherboard.
The wire leads shown connected to the original lighting board. Make a note of the function of these wires and their location. Disconnect these wire leads and remove the board from the tender chassis. Save this screw for installation of the new motherboard.
With the original lighting board removed, trim, tin or lengthen the wires as necessary. Using small lengths of TCS 3/32" and 3/64" shrink tubing, insulate these solder leads.
With the original lighting board removed, trim, tin or lengthen the wires as necessary. Using small lengths of TCS 3/32" and 3/64" shrink tubing, insulate these solder leads.
Using the saved screw, test fit the B-MB8 motherboard to the chassis and mark out drill hole locations for speaker venting. NOTE: Take care to avoid drill positions where they would interfere or damage underside components.
Using the saved screw, test fit the B-MB8 motherboard to the chassis and mark out drill hole locations for speaker venting. NOTE: Take care to avoid drill positions where they would interfere or damage underside components.
Show with the speaker porting holes complete. Carefully remove any burrs that might damage the speaker or the underside components.
Show with the speaker porting holes complete. Carefully remove any burrs that might damage the speaker or the underside components.
Using small dabs of hot melt glue, create a series of small raised 'gasket' dots to raise the speaker slightly, and with this glue, create a seal for the speaker down on to the chassis. Solder the wire leads to the motherboard according to the included wiring diagram. NOTE: You must be very careful to avoid getting glue on the speaker cone. Glue on the speaker will ultimately cause it to produce no sound and fail.
Using small dabs of hot melt glue, create a series of small raised 'gasket' dots to raise the speaker slightly, and with this glue, create a seal for the speaker down on to the chassis. Solder the wire leads to the motherboard according to the included wiring diagram. NOTE: You must be very careful to avoid getting glue on the speaker cone. Glue on the speaker will ultimately cause it to produce no sound and fail.
Using the original saved screw, attach the BMB8 motherboard to the frame and solder the track, motor, and lighting wire leads to the B-MB8 according to the included wiring diagram.
Using the original saved screw, attach the BMB8 motherboard to the frame and solder the track, motor, and lighting wire leads to the B-MB8 according to the included wiring diagram.
You can now plug in your WOW121 steam decoder. Lastly, in order to keep the wires neat and prevent possible shorts, lace the wires into a bundle using lacing cord. Now you can close up the tender, locomotive and reinstall the coupler and connection assemblies. Be sure to be mindful of wire routing and reassembly of the shell as to not damage or foul the installation. Your Bachmann Spectrum 4-6-0 is now WOWSound equipped and ready to roll!
You can now plug in your WOW121 steam decoder. Lastly, in order to keep the wires neat and prevent possible shorts, lace the wires into a bundle using lacing cord. Now you can close up the tender, locomotive and reinstall the coupler and connection assemblies. Be sure to be mindful of wire routing and reassembly of the shell as to not damage or foul the installation. Your Bachmann Spectrum 4-6-0 is now WOWSound equipped and ready to roll!

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

Lacing Cord

In order to keep the wires neat and prevent possible shorts, we recommend lacing the wires into a bundle using lacing cord. Lacing cord is a wax impregnated string used for wire bundling and making harnesses. There are many choices of lacing cord available from Digikey www.digikey.com. 
We use part number 802534B BK032-ND