Intermountain A/B FT

Scale:
HO Scale


WOWKit used in this installation

WDK-INT-2

Which includes the following items:

Decoder
Motherboard

IB-MB2

Speaker Kit
Accessories


This installation is for an HO-Scale Intermountain A/B FT locomotive set using a TCS WOW121-Diesel Decoder, IB-MB2, and INT-SH2 WOWSpeaker Kit.

This install was performed by Don Borden and was written by TCS.

B-Unit, A-Unit HO-Scale Intermountain FT prior to TCS WOW121-Diesel Decoder, IB-MB2, and INT-SH3 WOWSpeaker Kit installation.
B-Unit, A-Unit HO-Scale Intermountain FT prior to TCS WOW121-Diesel Decoder, IB-MB2, and INT-SH3 WOWSpeaker Kit installation.
A-Unit, B-Unit To start off this install, we must first remove the front coupler its housing on the A-unit only. Once that is complete, the shell will lift off of the chassis. Do this by holding the fuel tank with one hand and lifting the shell off by pressing up underneath the end platforms with your other hand. Removing the shell on the B-unit is done the same way as the A-unit however, the coupler does not need to be removed.
A-Unit, B-Unit To start off this install, we must first remove the front coupler its housing on the A-unit only. Once that is complete, the shell will lift off of the chassis. Do this by holding the fuel tank with one hand and lifting the shell off by pressing up underneath the end platforms with your other hand. Removing the shell on the B-unit is done the same way as the A-unit however, the coupler does not need to be removed.
A-Unit
A-Unit
B-Unit With the shell off, we can now remove the factory light board. First disconnect the wire harnesses from the board. Once the wire harnesses are loose, the factory light board can easily be unscrewed from the motor mount. Make sure to hold onto the four screws as they will be used to secure the IB-MB2 back in place. Next, remove the stock speaker and its housing. This, along with its screws will not be used.
B-Unit With the shell off, we can now remove the factory light board. First disconnect the wire harnesses from the board. Once the wire harnesses are loose, the factory light board can easily be unscrewed from the motor mount. Make sure to hold onto the four screws as they will be used to secure the IB-MB2 back in place. Next, remove the stock speaker and its housing. This, along with its screws will not be used.
A-Unit
A-Unit
B-Unit Now with the factory light board removed, we can now mount and secure the IB-MB2 with the four screws removed earlier. We can also screw down the INT-SH3 speaker housing kit. Before screwing down the INT-SH3, make sure to solder the original speaker harness onto the new 28mm WOWSpeaker that came in the kit. Additionally, some CA glue works great to keep it in place during the installation.
B-Unit Now with the factory light board removed, we can now mount and secure the IB-MB2 with the four screws removed earlier. We can also screw down the INT-SH3 speaker housing kit. Before screwing down the INT-SH3, make sure to solder the original speaker harness onto the new 28mm WOWSpeaker that came in the kit. Additionally, some CA glue works great to keep it in place during the installation.
B-Unit, A-Unit With all three main components mounted, we can now close up the locomotive and reinstall the coupler assemblies. Be sure to be mind full of wire routing and reassembly of the shell as to not damage or foul the installation. You have now installed a TCS WOW121-Diesel Decoder, IB-MB2, and INT-SH3 WOWSpeaker Kit into your HO-Scale Intermountain A/B FT locomotive set.
B-Unit, A-Unit With all three main components mounted, we can now close up the locomotive and reinstall the coupler assemblies. Be sure to be mind full of wire routing and reassembly of the shell as to not damage or foul the installation. You have now installed a TCS WOW121-Diesel Decoder, IB-MB2, and INT-SH3 WOWSpeaker Kit into your HO-Scale Intermountain A/B FT locomotive set.

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