TCS M-1 Decoder Installation
on a Tenshado ‘Spud’
(Aka SJM X200 Rail Tractor)
24/06/05
Converting
a ‘Tenshado Spud’ to DCC may look difficult but it is not that hard at all! The
following information would probably suit all rollingstock powered by a ‘Spud’
motor. This includes a ‘Silvermaz’ CPH/CTH Set, ‘Berg’s Hobbies’ X200 Rail
Tractor and ‘Stephen Johnson Model’s’ X200, 400 class Rail motor and ‘Silver
City Comet’ Set to name a few.
The tuning features of most decoders can over come some of the ‘Spuds’ inherent problems. Erratic power application to the motor can be smoothed out with the use of the ‘Dither’ control in CV56/57. The overly ‘fast’ top speed can be trimmed by reducing the ‘Top Volts’ in CV5. Even gradual acceleration and deceleration can be achieved by adjusting CV3 and CV4.
Your ‘Spud’ will
never be the same!
Step
One: Remove ‘Spud’ from model and lay up side down. Remove the small screw
retaining the base plate and slide/unclip the baseplate off. Remove the axles
from the body. See picture on left.
Step Two: Gently lift out the motor, hold it squarely
and it should just slide out. Inside the body you will see a contact on each
side coming from the wheel pick-ups. Simply fold these back outside the body
and snip them off. See picture on right.
Step
Three: Replace the motor, axles and
baseplate. Be careful when you refit the axles, the gears can be chipped/split
very easily. It is best to gently rotate the axles when putting them back in.
Don’t apply any pressure, if it isn’t going back in place, something isn’t
lined up. Check to see that the wheel pick-ups are sprung back behind the
wheels. Fasten the retaining screw and flip the ‘Spud’ back up right.
Step Four: Cut the wires on your decoder to the required length and solder the pick-up wires to the outsides of the ‘Spud’ pick-ups. Solder the motor wires to the motor terminal ‘ears’ that poke out of the ‘Spud’. See picture on left.
Step Five: Position the decoder on top of the ‘Spud’ or inside the body of the model, as required.
Step Six: Proceed to program your ‘Spud’ and have a go at making it run smoother!
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