Bachmann FA2

Scale:
HO Scale


WOWKit used in this installation

Kit Coming Soon

Which includes the following items:



Installation

This installation is for a HO Scale Bachmann FA2 using a TCS WOW121 Diesel Decoder, AK-MB1 Motherboard with built in Keep Alive®, motor mount and 28mm Speaker. Kit Coming Soon! We are in the process of assembling all the items shown here into a new WOWKit. Please check back here to see the new WOWKit when it arrives. Shown prior to installation.
This installation is for a HO Scale Bachmann FA2 using a TCS WOW121 Diesel Decoder, AK-MB1 Motherboard with built in Keep Alive®, motor mount and 28mm Speaker. Kit Coming Soon! We are in the process of assembling all the items shown here into a new WOWKit. Please check back here to see the new WOWKit when it arrives. Shown prior to installation.
To begin this install, remove the front coupler and it's housing, then remove the four screws highlighted above from underneath the chassis. While gently pulling outwards at each end and along each side of the frame, lift the shell off of the frame. Take care to release the handrails as you lift off the shell so they don't break.
To begin this install, remove the front coupler and it's housing, then remove the four screws highlighted above from underneath the chassis. While gently pulling outwards at each end and along each side of the frame, 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 Bachmann FA2 shown with the shell off. Remove the two screws highlighted in red, along with wires from the original lighting board and remove it from the chassis.
The Bachmann FA2 shown with the shell off. Remove the two screws highlighted in red, along with wires from the original lighting board and remove it from the chassis.
With the lighting board removed, trim, tin or lengthen the wire leads as needed and using small lengths of TCS 3/32" and 3/64" shrink tubing, insulate these solder leads.
With the lighting board removed, trim, tin or lengthen the wire leads as needed and using small lengths of TCS 3/32" and 3/64" shrink tubing, insulate these solder leads.
Next, clip off the 3 caps shown above. These are not necessary in this installation.
Next, clip off the 3 caps shown above. These are not necessary in this installation.
Show with the caps removed and motor wire leads prepared. Remove the two screws highlighted above and remove the speaker cover and speaker.
Show with the caps removed and motor wire leads prepared. Remove the two screws highlighted above and remove the speaker cover and speaker.
With the speaker cover removed, add a piece of foam, double sided tape to the top of the motor to allow mounting the motor mount.
With the speaker cover removed, add a piece of foam, double sided tape to the top of the motor to allow mounting the motor mount.
Mount the motor mount and then using the same foam, double sided tape, mount the AK-MB1 to the mount. Solder the track and motor wire leads to the motherboard according to the included wiring diagram.
Mount the motor mount and then using the same foam, double sided tape, mount the AK-MB1 to the mount. Solder the track and motor wire leads to the motherboard according to the included wiring diagram.
A view of the motherboard properly wired.
A view of the motherboard properly wired.
Using a small amount of hot melt glue, mount the 28mm speaker to the rear speaker platform and solder the wire leads to the motherboard. 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 a small amount of hot melt glue, mount the 28mm speaker to the rear speaker platform and solder the wire leads to the motherboard. 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.
Solder the front LED to the AK-MB1. 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, which 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 Now you can close up the locomotive and reinstall the coupler assemblies. Be sure to be mindful of wire routing and reassembly of the shell as to not damage  or foul the installation. Your Bachmann FA2 is now WOWSound equipped and ready to roll!
Solder the front LED to the AK-MB1. 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, which 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 Now you can close up the locomotive and reinstall the coupler assemblies. Be sure to be mindful of wire routing and reassembly of the shell as to not damage  or foul the installation. Your Bachmann FA2 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