Easy DCC conversion on a Triang/Hornby X04 chassis.

Discussion in 'Workshop Benches' started by Keith M, Mar 3, 2020.

  1. Keith M

    Keith M Staff Member Moderator

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    OK so not too many folks might want to go down that route, and if it were not for the fact that this early Hornby LBSC E2 tank loco I bought for £18 at Doncaster a couple of months ago is such a smooth runner, I wouldn't have bothered. As it's quite a nice loco, and to my knowledge no-one else makes this loco (at least, not in RTR), I've treated it to a respray in BR black, detailed it a bit and am just awaiting a pair of whistles for it (the single cab top whistle was changed for two mounted above the firebox around 1930) before completion. This loco was the one which Hornby 'cobbled' the moulds to create "Thomas the Tank Engine", so unless they decide to create a whole new model, it's doubtful there'll be any more anytime soon. This was the starting point.

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  2. Keith M

    Keith M Staff Member Moderator

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    As can be seen from the pic, it was in exceptional condition considering it's age, and looking at the motors commutator, always a good sign of wear or otherwise, it was almost as new, so running it for a while on the rolling road proved it's soundness, warranting spending a 'tenner' on a LaisDCC decoder (Spendthrift!!!:giggle:)
    So for anyone considering the same sort of conversion, these X04 motors are just about the easiest to convert to DCC of any loco out there. Here's what's 'under the bonnet'!

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  3. Keith M

    Keith M Staff Member Moderator

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    So as you can see, one side of the chassis is 'live', no problem as long as you can isolate both motor terminals from the chassis, and this is easily done. As can be seen, the spring on the motor top basically pushes the brass strips with the brushes attached outwards, holding them in contact with the motors commutator. One side is kept insulated from the chassis by the simple expedient of a sleeve of insulation, so to totally isolate the motor from the chassis, all that's needed is to slip a length of insulation onto the other leg of the brush spring as well, thereby completely isolating motor from chassis. With that done, it's just a matter of wiring in the decoder, Red to the right hand pickups, Black to the solder tag under the motor retaining screw, then solder the Orange and Grey wires one to each of the two brass brush holders, and that's it, job done! I'd recommend you use a reasonably thick sleeve on the springs legs so that pressure doesn't eventually force the metal spring through the insulation, 'cos if it does, then that'll be a 'tenner' up the spout as the decoder will go 'pop'! This is what the completed job looks like, decoder will be pushed into a position over the worm gear as the chassis is fitted back into the body so it stays out of the way, but until I get the replacement whistles, I'll not put the body back on since I'll need to drill a couple of holes for these. Fully assembled and completed job pics in due course.
    Keith.

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    Last edited: Mar 4, 2020
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  4. Keith M

    Keith M Staff Member Moderator

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    As I received the whistles today from "Peters Spares" (Next day service,:thumbup:), I found a few minutes to drill and fit them, then clipped the body back on. It's only a moderate job as I couldn't be bothered to strip the paint off, just sanded/scraped off the LBSC lining, a coat of Grey primer then Black finish coat followed by decals and crew. It's only a tank engine after all, and will at some point, along with many others of my stock, be weathered, but for an outlay of well under £40 in total, it's a useful little loco for shunting/station pilot etc and runs well enough.

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  5. Keith M

    Keith M Staff Member Moderator

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    .....and from t'other end.

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  6. Jim Freight

    Jim Freight Full Member

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    The X04 chassis are certainly easy to convert, the only problem I find is that the older locos have plain steel treads which dirty very quickly, the later ones with plated treads are very much more DCC friendly :)
    However there are worse materials, the bronze/brass treads of early Lima :faint:, I replace those wheelsets completely.
     
  7. Keith M

    Keith M Staff Member Moderator

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    Me too Jim, as per my recent thread on updating the Lima Class 117 DMU. Plastic wheeled rolling stock is also a "No-No" as far as I'm concerned!
    Keith.
     
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