Stewart ALCO C628 Version 1

Scale:
HO Scale


This installation uses the following decoder:


This installation documentation is for the HO-Scale Stewart Alco Century 628. This installation uses the WOW101-Diesel decoder and was performed by TCS. This installation also includes the use of a KA4 Keep Alive®, UNIV-SH4-C WOWSpeaker kit, and MC-C628/C630 harness [optional].

HO-Scale Stewart Alco Century 628 prior to installation.
HO-Scale Stewart Alco Century 628 prior to installation.
To begin this installation, remove the coupler screws highlighted above in red and the couplers.Gently grasp the shell on either side and lift off.
To begin this installation, remove the coupler screws highlighted above in red and the couplers.Gently grasp the shell on either side and lift off.
The locomotive shown with the original lighting board after the shell is removed. Remove the four screws on the top of the lighting board highlighted in red and lift off the board.
The locomotive shown with the original lighting board after the shell is removed. Remove the four screws on the top of the lighting board highlighted in red and lift off the board.
The underside of the board shown with the shell removed.
The underside of the board shown with the shell removed.
Carefully remove the dummy 8-pin connector from the lighting board.
Carefully remove the dummy 8-pin connector from the lighting board.
Next, unsolder the track wire leads from the original connector on the lighting board being careful not to overheat the board. Remove this unused connector gently with a pair of needle nose pliers so as to not damage the board. This space is needed toallow for the installation of the KA4.
Next, unsolder the track wire leads from the original connector on the lighting board being careful not to overheat the board. Remove this unused connector gently with a pair of needle nose pliers so as to not damage the board. This space is needed toallow for the installation of the KA4.
Trim the exposed end of the wires until there is only a small portion (~1/16") of exposed wire at the tip.Re solder these wires directly to the original lighting board where the connector had been.
Trim the exposed end of the wires until there is only a small portion (~1/16") of exposed wire at the tip.Re solder these wires directly to the original lighting board where the connector had been.
At this stage, plug the WOW101 Diesel decoder into the lighting board and secure it to the board using Kapton tape.
At this stage, plug the WOW101 Diesel decoder into the lighting board and secure it to the board using Kapton tape.
With this in place, using double sided foam tape, mount the KA4 as shown above to the frame.
With this in place, using double sided foam tape, mount the KA4 as shown above to the frame.
Insert the 25mm x 14mm speaker into the UNIV-SH4-C enclosure and using double-sided foam tape, mount this assembly to the front underside of the of the lighting board.
Insert the 25mm x 14mm speaker into the UNIV-SH4-C enclosure and using double-sided foam tape, mount this assembly to the front underside of the of the lighting board.
With this in place, splice the speaker and KA4 leads into the WOW101 wiring harness and plug this into the decoder.
With this in place, splice the speaker and KA4 leads into the WOW101 wiring harness and plug this into the decoder.
Utilizing the original four screws, reattach the original lighting board to the frame and organize the wires neatly.
Utilizing the original four screws, reattach the original lighting board to the frame and organize the wires neatly.
Lastly, in order to keep the wires neat and prevent possible shorts, lace the wires into a bundle using lacing cord.You are now ready to reinstall the shell, the bottom screws and couplers to finish the installation. Your WOWsound equipped Stewart Alco Century 628 is ready to roll!
Lastly, in order to keep the wires neat and prevent possible shorts, lace the wires into a bundle using lacing cord.You are now ready to reinstall the shell, the bottom screws and couplers to finish the installation. Your WOWsound equipped Stewart Alco Century 628 is 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