Kato ALCO RS2

Scale:
N Scale


This installation uses the following decoder:


This installation documentation is for the N Scale Kato ALCO RS2. This installation uses the TCS K2D4 decoder and was performed by TCS.

The picture above shows the Kato RS2 with its shell on.
The picture above shows the Kato RS2 with its shell on.
This picture shows the locomotive's chassis with its shell taken off and the original lighting board.
This picture shows the locomotive's chassis with its shell taken off and the original lighting board.
Next slide and lift out the original lighting board so that your locomotive looks like the image above.
Next slide and lift out the original lighting board so that your locomotive looks like the image above.
Apply Kapton tape (as shown above) over the frame above the motor tabs and at the rear of the chassis to prevent the decoder from shorting against the frame.
Apply Kapton tape (as shown above) over the frame above the motor tabs and at the rear of the chassis to prevent the decoder from shorting against the frame.
Next carefully spread the copper tabs so that they fit over the chassis as shown in the picture above.
Next carefully spread the copper tabs so that they fit over the chassis as shown in the picture above.
Carefully slide the decoder down while making sure that the copper tabs remain aligned as show in the picture above.
Carefully slide the decoder down while making sure that the copper tabs remain aligned as show in the picture above.
Slide the decoder back until it sits in the notches in the frame. Be sure that the motor clips on the decoder completely cover the motor tabs on the locomotive. You can now replace the shell and run your locomotive!
Slide the decoder back until it sits in the notches in the frame. Be sure that the motor clips on the decoder completely cover the motor tabs on the locomotive. You can now replace the shell and run your locomotive!

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