Intermountain SD40-2

Scale:
HO Scale


WOWKit used in this installation

WDK-INT-1

Which includes the following items:

Decoder
Motherboard

IB-MB2

Speaker Kit
Accessories


Installation

This installation is for a HO-Scale Intermountain SD40-2 using a TCS WOW121-Diesel Decoder, IB-MB2 with built in Keep Alive®, and INT-SH1 WOWSpeaker Kit. 

HO-Scale Intermountain SD40-2 prior to TCS WOW121-Diesel Decoder, IB-MB2, and INT-SH1 WOWSpeaker Kit installation.
HO-Scale Intermountain SD40-2 prior to TCS WOW121-Diesel Decoder, IB-MB2, and INT-SH1 WOWSpeaker Kit 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 disconnect the wire harnesses from the board. Once the wire harnesses are loose, the factory light board can easily be unscrewed from the motor mount. Make sure to hold onto the four screws as they will be used to secure the IB-MB2 back in place. Next, remove the stock speaker housing. This, along with its screw will not be used.
With the shell off, we can now remove the factory light board. First disconnect the wire harnesses from the board. Once the wire harnesses are loose, the factory light board can easily be unscrewed from the motor mount. Make sure to hold onto the four screws as they will be used to secure the IB-MB2 back in place. Next, remove the stock speaker housing. This, along with its screw will not be used.
Now with the factory light board removed, we can now mount and secure the IB-MB2 with the four screws removed earlier. We can also screw down the INT-SH1 speaker housing kit. Note: You will also need a JST Speaker Connector (Item # 1660) to connect your speaker to this connectorized motherboard.
Now with the factory light board removed, we can now mount and secure the IB-MB2 with the four screws removed earlier. We can also screw down the INT-SH1 speaker housing kit. Note: You will also need a JST Speaker Connector (Item # 1660) to connect your speaker to this connectorized motherboard.
The above image shows the IB-MB2 and INT-SH1 mounted with a JST Speaker Connector (Item # 1660) connecting our speaker to the motherboard. At this time, we also connected our motor and track pick up harnesses as well.
The above image shows the IB-MB2 and INT-SH1 mounted with a JST Speaker Connector (Item # 1660) connecting our speaker to the motherboard. At this time, we also connected our motor and track pick up harnesses as well.
Lastly, we need to attach our lighting harness to the front of the IB-MB2. With all three main components mounted, we can now close up the locomotive and reinstall the coupler assemblies. Be sure to be mind full of wire routing and reassembly of the shell as to not damage or foul the installation. You have now installed a TCS WOW121-Diesel Decoder, IB-MB2, and INT-SH1 WOWSpeaker Kit into your HO-Scale Intermountain SD40-2.
Lastly, we need to attach our lighting harness to the front of the IB-MB2. With all three main components mounted, we can now close up the locomotive and reinstall the coupler assemblies. Be sure to be mind full of wire routing and reassembly of the shell as to not damage or foul the installation. You have now installed a TCS WOW121-Diesel Decoder, IB-MB2, and INT-SH1 WOWSpeaker Kit into your HO-Scale Intermountain SD40-2.

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