Stewart F3A (All Phases)

Scale:
HO Scale


This installation uses the following decoder:

T1



HO Scale Stewart F3A Phase I with a TCS T1 decoder installed - performed by J.M.

Phase II shown above.
Phase II shown above.
Phase IV shown above.
Phase IV shown above.
Phase I shown above. First remove the shell by lifting it off.
Phase I shown above. First remove the shell by lifting it off.
Remove the motor tabs from under the copper bars, remove the bulb wires from the copper bars, and rotate the copper bars so that the trapezoidal bend is vertical as shown in the images below.
Remove the motor tabs from under the copper bars, remove the bulb wires from the copper bars, and rotate the copper bars so that the trapezoidal bend is vertical as shown in the images below.
Now attach the orange and grey wires to the motor tabs. Use heat shrink tubing to cover the entire copper tab and solder joint to prevent an electrical short.
Now attach the orange and grey wires to the motor tabs. Use heat shrink tubing to cover the entire copper tab and solder joint to prevent an electrical short.
Next, attach the red and black wires to the top of the copper bars where they rise above the plastic board.
Next, attach the red and black wires to the top of the copper bars where they rise above the plastic board.
Finally, attach the blue and white wires from the decoder to either side of the bulb.
Finally, attach the blue and white wires from the decoder to either side of the bulb.
Your finished installation should look like the image below.
Your finished installation should look like the image below.
Once you are sure all solder joints are properly isolated and protected you can put the shell back on your locomotive. It is now ready to run!
Once you are sure all solder joints are properly isolated and protected you can put the shell back on your locomotive. It is now ready to run!

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