Bowser SD40-2

Scale:
HO Scale


This installation uses the following decoder:


This installation is for a HO-Scale Bowser SD40-2 using a TCS WOW121-Diesel Decoder. This install was performed by TCS.

HO-Scale Bowser SD40-2 prior to TCS WOW121-Diesel Decoder installation. The Bowser SD40-2 has 7 light functions, and with its 8 lighting functions the WOW121-Diesel decoder supports all of them.
HO-Scale Bowser SD40-2 prior to TCS WOW121-Diesel Decoder installation. The Bowser SD40-2 has 7 light functions, and with its 8 lighting functions the WOW121-Diesel decoder supports all of them.
To start off this install, we must first remove the front and rear couplers and their housings. Once that is complete, the shell will lift off of the chassis.
To start off this install, we must first remove the front and rear couplers and their housings. Once that is complete, the shell will lift off of the chassis.
With the shell off, we can now remove the 21-pin factory decoder from the original lighting board.
With the shell off, we can now remove the 21-pin factory decoder from the original lighting board.
Now, simply plug in the WOW121-Diesel decoder just like the original decoder.
Now, simply plug in the WOW121-Diesel decoder just like the original decoder.
Replace the shell and the couplers and your Bowser SD40-2 with WOWSound is now ready to run! Ideally we would add a Keep Alive® device to this installation, but there is physically no where to place it in this engine. Besides that disappointing element, this is one of the easiest installations out there.
Replace the shell and the couplers and your Bowser SD40-2 with WOWSound is now ready to run! Ideally we would add a Keep Alive® device to this installation, but there is physically no where to place it in this engine. Besides that disappointing element, this is one of the easiest installations out there.

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