Bachmann Spectrum 4-8-4 Class J

Scale:
N Scale


This installation uses the following decoder:

M1



This installation is for N Scale Bachmann Spectrum 4-8-4 Class J uses TCS M1 Decoder and was performed by A.G.

The locomotive is shown as a courtesy of Jim Thomson, Canada.

The three pictures above show detailed chassis of the Bachmann Spectrum 4-8-4 Class J prior to TCS M1 Decoder installation.
The three pictures above show detailed chassis of the Bachmann Spectrum 4-8-4 Class J prior to TCS M1 Decoder installation.
The TCS M1 Decoder will be installed in the locomotive tender. Remove two phillips screw that are circled in red and gently lift the shell off of the chassis.
The TCS M1 Decoder will be installed in the locomotive tender. Remove two phillips screw that are circled in red and gently lift the shell off of the chassis.
Gently, pull the shell straight up but be very careful not to damaged copper wires that connect tender with the locomotive. The picture above shows the original light board after the shell removal.
Gently, pull the shell straight up but be very careful not to damaged copper wires that connect tender with the locomotive. The picture above shows the original light board after the shell removal.
Using small flat head screw driver, remove two copper tabs so that the M1's wires can be soldered.
Using small flat head screw driver, remove two copper tabs so that the M1's wires can be soldered.
Solder the M1 decoder wires exactly as shown above. Orange = Pin #1 Yellow = Pin #2 Black = Pin #4 Gray = Pin #5 White = Pin #6 Blue = Pin #7 Red = Pin #8
Solder the M1 decoder wires exactly as shown above. Orange = Pin #1 Yellow = Pin #2 Black = Pin #4 Gray = Pin #5 White = Pin #6 Blue = Pin #7 Red = Pin #8
Remove the C3 and C1 capacitors that are affecting locomotive speed.
Remove the C3 and C1 capacitors that are affecting locomotive speed.
Here you can see the finished TCS M1 Decoder Installation and removed Capacitors. Place the shell back on the chassis and we are ready to go.
Here you can see the finished TCS M1 Decoder Installation and removed Capacitors. Place the shell back on the chassis and we are ready to go.

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