Kato EMD SDP40F

Scale:
N Scale


This installation uses the following decoder:


This installation is for N Scale Kato EMD SDP40F uses the TCS K7D4 Decoder and was performed by TCS.

First, remove the bottom side of the grab iron, highlighted below, from the locomotive shell.
First, remove the bottom side of the grab iron, highlighted below, from the locomotive shell.
Next, rotate the grab iron towards the back of the locomotive so that it is out of the way when removing the shell.
Next, rotate the grab iron towards the back of the locomotive so that it is out of the way when removing the shell.
Now you can spread the shell at the 2 points identified below and wobble it back and forth until it lifts off.
Now you can spread the shell at the 2 points identified below and wobble it back and forth until it lifts off.
Lift the original lighting boards rear "neck" with a screw driver and slide the entire lighting board towards the front of the locomotive.
Lift the original lighting boards rear "neck" with a screw driver and slide the entire lighting board towards the front of the locomotive.
The lighting board should now lift right out of the frame.
The lighting board should now lift right out of the frame.
Carefully remove the black plastic clip and both motor clips from the original lighting board.
Carefully remove the black plastic clip and both motor clips from the original lighting board.
Mount the motor tabs and black plastic clip on the K7D4 just like the original lighting board.
Mount the motor tabs and black plastic clip on the K7D4 just like the original lighting board.
Slide the K7D4 into the frame and then lift the rear neck to allow the rear tabs to slide into the frame.
Slide the K7D4 into the frame and then lift the rear neck to allow the rear tabs to slide into the frame.
You can now replace the shell and reattach the grab iron. You're Kato SDP40F is now ready to run!
You can now replace the shell and reattach the grab iron. You're Kato SDP40F 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