Scaletrains Rivet Counter GE Tier 4 GEVO

Scale:
HO Scale


WOWKit used in this installation

WDK-ATL-3

Which includes the following items:

Decoder
Motherboard

AK-MB1

Speaker Kit


Installation

This installation is for a HO Scale Scaletrains Rivet Counter GE Tier 4 GEVO using a TCS WOW121 Diesel Decoder, AK-MB1 Motherboard with built in Keep Alive® and UNIV-SH1-C WOWSpeaker kit.

HO-Scale Scaletrains GE tier 4 GEVO shown prior to installation.
HO-Scale Scaletrains GE tier 4 GEVO shown prior to installation.
To start off this install, we must first remove the front and rear coupler screws highlighted above and their housings.
To start off this install, we must first remove the front and rear coupler screws highlighted above and their housings.
With the couplers removed, 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.
With the couplers removed, 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 Scaletrains GE tier 4 GEVO shown with the shell off. Remove the two screws highlighted above in red then remove wires from the original lighting board and remove it from the chassis.
The Scaletrains GE tier 4 GEVO shown with the shell off. Remove the two screws highlighted above in red then remove wires from the original lighting board and remove it from the chassis.
With the lighting board removed, trim off the two tabs shown above to create a flat installation surface. 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 off the two tabs shown above to create a flat installation surface. 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.
Shown with the post removed correctly.
Shown with the post removed correctly.
Inside the shell you will see two blowers. The rear one of these will need to be removed to allow space for the motherboard and decoder.
Inside the shell you will see two blowers. The rear one of these will need to be removed to allow space for the motherboard and decoder.
Using double sided foam tape ,attach the AK-MB1 to the frame and solder the motor and track pickup wires according to the included wiring diagram.
Using double sided foam tape ,attach the AK-MB1 to the frame and solder the motor and track pickup wires according to the included wiring diagram.
For this particular locomotive, there are two possible installations for the speaker placement. The first involves less modification and reassembly, but the second offers a better sound quality and preserves he original rear weight. We would recommend the 2nd option if possible. To do the first, remove the top rear weight from the frame by removing the single rear screw and using double sided foam tape, with the 35mm x 16mm WOWSound inserted mounted into the Univ-SH1-C enclosure, mount this assembly onto the platform where the weight had been. Be sure with create a channel in the tape for the rear wires and secure the speaker into place. Solder the speaker and lighting wires to the AK-MB1 according to the wiring diagram. If your speaker enclosure installation covers the portholes on the enclosure, we recommend adding new port hole(s) similar to the original porting. Be sure that the new portholes are the same size and amount of the original and are vented freely into the locomotive We have found introducing a port of the correct size greatly increases the volume and sound quality of the installation. Too much or too little porting decreases the sound quality.
For this particular locomotive, there are two possible installations for the speaker placement. The first involves less modification and reassembly, but the second offers a better sound quality and preserves he original rear weight. We would recommend the 2nd option if possible. To do the first, remove the top rear weight from the frame by removing the single rear screw and using double sided foam tape, with the 35mm x 16mm WOWSound inserted mounted into the Univ-SH1-C enclosure, mount this assembly onto the platform where the weight had been. Be sure with create a channel in the tape for the rear wires and secure the speaker into place. Solder the speaker and lighting wires to the AK-MB1 according to the wiring diagram. If your speaker enclosure installation covers the portholes on the enclosure, we recommend adding new port hole(s) similar to the original porting. Be sure that the new portholes are the same size and amount of the original and are vented freely into the locomotive We have found introducing a port of the correct size greatly increases the volume and sound quality of the installation. Too much or too little porting decreases the sound quality.
For speaker placement option #2, leave the rear weight in place and remove instead the two screws (1 each located on either side of the frame), one shown highlighted above in red. Set these screws aside for re-installation.
For speaker placement option #2, leave the rear weight in place and remove instead the two screws (1 each located on either side of the frame), one shown highlighted above in red. Set these screws aside for re-installation.
With these two screws removed, carefully lift the top of the frame off, exposing the speaker opening that is found inside the top, rear of the frame.
With these two screws removed, carefully lift the top of the frame off, exposing the speaker opening that is found inside the top, rear of the frame.
In order for the speaker to fit correctly into this frame, it must be slightly trimmed as shown. Be sure not to trim off too much and affect the speaker structure.
In order for the speaker to fit correctly into this frame, it must be slightly trimmed as shown. Be sure not to trim off too much and affect the speaker structure.
The speaker shown properly trimmed.
The speaker shown properly trimmed.
With the speaker trimmed, insert it into the frame speaker opening, feeding the speaker wires up through the frame as you do so. Using a small amount of hot melt glue, secure this into place. 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. Replace the frame into place using the saved screws.
With the speaker trimmed, insert it into the frame speaker opening, feeding the speaker wires up through the frame as you do so. Using a small amount of hot melt glue, secure this into place. 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. Replace the frame into place using the saved screws.
With the speaker installed with either method, solder the front and rear LED wire leads according to the included wiring diagram. TCS motherboards include on board current limit resistors for LED use. There is no need to apply external resistors for LED use. 
With the speaker installed with either method, solder the front and rear LED wire leads according to the included wiring diagram. 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, if needed, 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. On this installation as the wire leads were short and tight to the frame, we used Kapton ape to secure them. 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 Scaletrains GE tier 4 GEVO 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, if needed, 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. On this installation as the wire leads were short and tight to the frame, we used Kapton ape to secure them. 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 Scaletrains GE tier 4 GEVO 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