American Z Line GP38-2

Scale:
Z Scale


This installation uses the following decoder:


This installation is for a Z Scale American Z Line GP38-2 using a TCS AZL4 decoder and was performed by TCS.

American Z Line GP38-2 prior to TCS AZL4 decoder install.
American Z Line GP38-2 prior to TCS AZL4 decoder install.
First, carefully pull the shell off of the locomotive chassis to expose the factory light board.
First, carefully pull the shell off of the locomotive chassis to expose the factory light board.
With the shell removed, next remove the factory light board from the locomotive chassis. Do this by carefully lifting the rear (right in picture above) of the factory light board and slide it towards the rear of the locomotive.
With the shell removed, next remove the factory light board from the locomotive chassis. Do this by carefully lifting the rear (right in picture above) of the factory light board and slide it towards the rear of the locomotive.
With the factory light board removed, next install the TCS AZL4 decoder. Installing the AZL4 is the reverse process of removing the factory light board completed in the previous step. You have now installed a TCS AZL4 decoder into your Z-Scale American Z Line GP38-2.
With the factory light board removed, next install the TCS AZL4 decoder. Installing the AZL4 is the reverse process of removing the factory light board completed in the previous step. You have now installed a TCS AZL4 decoder into your Z-Scale American Z Line 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