Intermountain SD40-2W

Scale:
N Scale


This installation uses the following decoder:




This installation is for a N Scale Intermountain SD40-2W using a TCS IMD4-W Decoder and was performed by TCS.

N-Scale Intermountain SD40-2W prior to IMD4-W decoder installation.
N-Scale Intermountain SD40-2W prior to IMD4-W decoder installation.
N-Scale Intermountain SD40-2W prior to IMD4-W decoder installation.
N-Scale Intermountain SD40-2W prior to IMD4-W decoder installation.
In order to install the TCS IMD4-W deocder, we must first remove the shell of the locomotive.Do this by removing the fuel tank and then while gripping the chassis with one hand, pull the locomotives shell off with the other hand.Be careful when grabbing the locomotives shell, as the finely detailed railings are delicate.Additional note: The above picture shows both trucks installed backwards. Please refer to the last image for reinstallation reference.
In order to install the TCS IMD4-W deocder, we must first remove the shell of the locomotive.Do this by removing the fuel tank and then while gripping the chassis with one hand, pull the locomotives shell off with the other hand.Be careful when grabbing the locomotives shell, as the finely detailed railings are delicate.Additional note: The above picture shows both trucks installed backwards. Please refer to the last image for reinstallation reference.
With the shell removed, we can now begin to uninstall the factory light board. First we must loosen the three screws highlighted with the red circles.Note: It's not necessary to completely remove these screws. Loosening a few turns is all that's needed.Additional note: The above picture shows both trucks installed backward. Please refer to the last image for reinstallation reference.
With the shell removed, we can now begin to uninstall the factory light board. First we must loosen the three screws highlighted with the red circles.Note: It's not necessary to completely remove these screws. Loosening a few turns is all that's needed.Additional note: The above picture shows both trucks installed backward. Please refer to the last image for reinstallation reference.
With the screws loosened, the trucks will fall out. Set these as well as the two copper pickup bridges off to the side to be reinstalled later on.Next, desolder the front headlight LED leads from the factory light board. You can then remove the factory light board from the chassis.
With the screws loosened, the trucks will fall out. Set these as well as the two copper pickup bridges off to the side to be reinstalled later on.Next, desolder the front headlight LED leads from the factory light board. You can then remove the factory light board from the chassis.
With the factory light board removed, you can now install the TCS IMD4-W decoder. Installation is the reverse process of uninstalling the factory light board.Once the TCS IMD4-W decoder is installed, place the trucks back into the chassis and tighten the three screws. Once tight, reinstall the two pickup bridge contacts.Finally, reinstall the shell of the locomotive as well as the fuel tank.You have now installed a TCS IMD4-W decoder into your N-Scale Intermountain SD40-2W.
With the factory light board removed, you can now install the TCS IMD4-W decoder. Installation is the reverse process of uninstalling the factory light board.Once the TCS IMD4-W decoder is installed, place the trucks back into the chassis and tighten the three screws. Once tight, reinstall the two pickup bridge contacts.Finally, reinstall the shell of the locomotive as well as the fuel tank.You have now installed a TCS IMD4-W decoder into your N-Scale Intermountain SD40-2W.

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