Intermountain FT-A

Scale:
N Scale


This installation uses the following decoder:


This installation is for the N Scale Intermountain FT-A uses the TCS IMFTA4 and was performed by A.G.

The upper three pictures show the Intermountain FT-A with its shell on prior to the TCS IMFTA4 decoder installation.
The upper three pictures show the Intermountain FT-A with its shell on prior to the TCS IMFTA4 decoder installation.
Using a Phillips screw driver, remove the screw marked in red. Deattach front coupler.
Using a Phillips screw driver, remove the screw marked in red. Deattach front coupler.
Here is a picture of the chassis with its shell removed where you can see the original Intermountain light board.
Here is a picture of the chassis with its shell removed where you can see the original Intermountain light board.
Using a Phillips screw driver remove two screws (marked in red) that hold the board and chassis together. Those two screws supply the track power to the board. Note: if you find that the lighting board is attached to wires going to the motor skip to the end of this installation for information on installing your decoder.
Using a Phillips screw driver remove two screws (marked in red) that hold the board and chassis together. Those two screws supply the track power to the board. Note: if you find that the lighting board is attached to wires going to the motor skip to the end of this installation for information on installing your decoder.
Gently, desolder both wires (green and yellow) of the original LED.
Gently, desolder both wires (green and yellow) of the original LED.
Remove the original light board as shown in the picture above. Note: if you find that the lighting board is attached to wires going to the motor skip to the end of this installation for information on installing your decoder.
Remove the original light board as shown in the picture above. Note: if you find that the lighting board is attached to wires going to the motor skip to the end of this installation for information on installing your decoder.
Install the TCS IMFTA4 decoder as shown above. Make sure the two power supplying screws are tight and fitted well so that they can supply the power to the board.
Install the TCS IMFTA4 decoder as shown above. Make sure the two power supplying screws are tight and fitted well so that they can supply the power to the board.
It is very important to have the LED wires soldered in the right direction - otherwise, the LED will not work. The upper copper tab connects to the green wire and the lower connects to the yellow. Lighting board attached to wires running to the motor? If you find your lighting board is soldered to wires leading to the motor as shown in the image below (FTB).
It is very important to have the LED wires soldered in the right direction - otherwise, the LED will not work. The upper copper tab connects to the green wire and the lower connects to the yellow. Lighting board attached to wires running to the motor? If you find your lighting board is soldered to wires leading to the motor as shown in the image below (FTB).
Desolder the feet from your decoder (IMFTA4 or IMFTB4).
Desolder the feet from your decoder (IMFTA4 or IMFTB4).
And solder the wires from the motor to the holes where the feet were previously.
And solder the wires from the motor to the holes where the feet were previously.

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