Rivarossi 4-6-4

Scale:
HO Scale


WOWKit used in this installation

Kit Coming Soon

Which includes the following items:



Installation

This installation is for a HO-Scale Rivarossi 4-6-4 using a TCS WOW121 Steam Decoder, B-MB2 with Keep Alive® and 32mm WOWSpeaker.

HO-Scale Rivarossi 4-6-4 shown prior to installation.
HO-Scale Rivarossi 4-6-4 shown prior to installation.
To begin, remove the screw highlighted above in red located in the front of the locomotive.
To begin, remove the screw highlighted above in red located in the front of the locomotive.
Next, we must first remove the right and left side screws highlighted above. With these screws removed, while gently pulling outwards at each end and along each side of the frame, slide the shell backwards and lift the shell off of the frame. Take care to release the handrails as you lift off the shell so they don't break.
Next, we must first remove the right and left side screws highlighted above. With these screws removed, while gently pulling outwards at each end and along each side of the frame, slide the shell backwards and lift the shell off of the frame. Take care to release the handrails as you lift off the shell so they don't break.
The Rivarossi 4-6-4 shown with the shell off. Remove the two clips in front of and behind the motor as highlighted above in red and remove the motor from the chassis.
The Rivarossi 4-6-4 shown with the shell off. Remove the two clips in front of and behind the motor as highlighted above in red and remove the motor from the chassis.
Shown with the motor removed. Take care that the drive components stay in place for reinstallation. Unsolder the wire leads connected to the motor and frame.
Shown with the motor removed. Take care that the drive components stay in place for reinstallation. Unsolder the wire leads connected to the motor and frame.
Solder in the new wiring harness according to the included wiring diagram.
Solder in the new wiring harness according to the included wiring diagram.
Before reinstallation the motor, cover all the contacts with Kapton tape to be sure they are well insulated from the motor.
Before reinstallation the motor, cover all the contacts with Kapton tape to be sure they are well insulated from the motor.
Show with the motor reinstalled properly.
Show with the motor reinstalled properly.
Splice the front lighting lead into the harness as shown above.
Splice the front lighting lead into the harness as shown above.
Using a sharp x-acto blade, trim a rectangular opening for the connector installation in the rear of the locomotive. Using hot melt glue, carefully, mount this in place securely flush with the rear plate of the locomotive.
Using a sharp x-acto blade, trim a rectangular opening for the connector installation in the rear of the locomotive. Using hot melt glue, carefully, mount this in place securely flush with the rear plate of the locomotive.
With the locomotive finished, next is to install the WOWSound kit into the tender. Start by unscrewing and removing the small pin in the front of the tender, setting aside the in, washer and small nut for reinstallation.
With the locomotive finished, next is to install the WOWSound kit into the tender. Start by unscrewing and removing the small pin in the front of the tender, setting aside the in, washer and small nut for reinstallation.
Remove the screw highlighted above in red from the other end of the tender. Lift the tender shell off of the frame.
Remove the screw highlighted above in red from the other end of the tender. Lift the tender shell off of the frame.
The tender shown with the shell off. Remove the weight platform and to ensure the very best sound quality and volume, drill a series of small holes in the bottom of the tender floor to allow the sound to escape the shell. Replace the platform when this is complete.
The tender shown with the shell off. Remove the weight platform and to ensure the very best sound quality and volume, drill a series of small holes in the bottom of the tender floor to allow the sound to escape the shell. Replace the platform when this is complete.
To prepare the B-MB2 for installation, wrap the capacitors located on the bottom of the motherboard to insulate them and prevent possible shorts against the weight.
To prepare the B-MB2 for installation, wrap the capacitors located on the bottom of the motherboard to insulate them and prevent possible shorts against the weight.
Using double-sided foam tape, mount the B-MB2 to the weight as shown.
Using double-sided foam tape, mount the B-MB2 to the weight as shown.
Solder the connector leads from the locomotive to the B-MB2. We chose to put a connector on the rear LED lead to ease shell removal later if needed.
Solder the connector leads from the locomotive to the B-MB2. We chose to put a connector on the rear LED lead to ease shell removal later if needed.
Using foam double sided tape, mount the 32mm WOWSound speaker face up onto the weight platform. Solder the wire leads to the motherboard according to the included wiring diagram.
Using foam double sided tape, mount the 32mm WOWSound speaker face up onto the weight platform. Solder the wire leads to the motherboard according to the included wiring diagram.
Using a small dab of hot melt glue, mount the tender LED against the rear light tube. TCS motherboards include on board current limit resistors for LED use. There is no need to apply external resistors for LED use.
Using a small dab of hot melt glue, mount the tender LED against the rear light tube. TCS motherboards include on board current limit resistors for LED use. There is no need to apply external resistors for LED use.
You can now plug in your WOW121 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 locomotive and tender. Be sure to be mindful of wire routing and reassembly of the shell as to not damage or foul the installation. Your Rivarossi 4-6-4 is now WOWSound equipped and ready to roll!
You can now plug in your WOW121 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 locomotive and tender. Be sure to be mindful of wire routing and reassembly of the shell as to not damage or foul the installation. Your Rivarossi 4-6-4 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