Athearn Genesis EMD GP38-2

Scale:
HO Scale


WOWKit used in this installation

WDK-ATH-2

Which includes the following items:

Decoder
Motherboard

GEN-MB1

Speaker Kit


Installation

This installation is for a HO-Scale Athearn Genesis GP38-2 using a TCS WOW121-Diesel Decoder and GEN-MB1.

HO-Scale Athearn Genesis GP38-2 prior to WOW121-Diesel Decoder and GEN-MB1 installation.
HO-Scale Athearn Genesis GP38-2 prior to WOW121-Diesel Decoder and GEN-MB1 installation.
HO-Scale Athearn Genesis GP38-2 prior to WOW121-Diesel Decoder and GEN-MB1 installation.
HO-Scale Athearn Genesis GP38-2 prior to WOW121-Diesel Decoder and GEN-MB1 installation.
To start off this install, we must first remove the front and rear couplers and their housings. 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.
To start off this install, we must first remove the front and rear couplers and their housings. 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.
With the shell off, we can now remove the factory light board. First remove all the black wire clips and disconnect the wires from the board. All the wires have been unclipped prior to taking the above photo. Once the wires are loose the factory light board will then easily unclip from the motor mount.
With the shell off, we can now remove the factory light board. First remove all the black wire clips and disconnect the wires from the board. All the wires have been unclipped prior to taking the above photo. Once the wires are loose the factory light board will then easily unclip from the motor mount.
Since we're installing sound in this locomotive, we need to remove the speaker housing weight. The two screws need to be removed to do so. With everything removed, we can now install the GEN-MB1 and solder our pick-up and motor wire leads.
Since we're installing sound in this locomotive, we need to remove the speaker housing weight. The two screws need to be removed to do so. With everything removed, we can now install the GEN-MB1 and solder our pick-up and motor wire leads.
Next, secure the GEN-SH1 and 35x16mm speaker with the two screws from the weight removed earlier. Next, solder the speaker leads to the GEN-MB1. To secure and seal the screw holes on the speaker, some hot glue worked well if the fit is loose.
Next, secure the GEN-SH1 and 35x16mm speaker with the two screws from the weight removed earlier. Next, solder the speaker leads to the GEN-MB1. To secure and seal the screw holes on the speaker, some hot glue worked well if the fit is loose.
Lastly, we need to attach our headlight leads to the front and rear headlight pads on the GEN-MB1. For the installers convenience, the forward and reverse headlight pads are already setup for 1.5v bulbs that Athearn models use. If you require a 12v supply, please follow the GEN-MB1's instruction manual on how to do so. This model also features a rotary beacon which we wired to funtion one. With all three main components mounted, we can now close up the locomotive and reinstall the coupler assemblies. You have now installed a TCS WOW121-Diesel Decoder and GEN-MB1 into your HO-Scale Athearn Genesis GP38-2.
Lastly, we need to attach our headlight leads to the front and rear headlight pads on the GEN-MB1. For the installers convenience, the forward and reverse headlight pads are already setup for 1.5v bulbs that Athearn models use. If you require a 12v supply, please follow the GEN-MB1's instruction manual on how to do so. This model also features a rotary beacon which we wired to funtion one. With all three main components mounted, we can now close up the locomotive and reinstall the coupler assemblies. You have now installed a TCS WOW121-Diesel Decoder and GEN-MB1 into your HO-Scale Athearn Genesis GP38-2.

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