Is it possible to put DCC decoders in older athearn models
Yes - You have to make sure that you isolate the motor from the frame. You can put a piece of electrical tape down between the motor and the frame (make sure you bend up the copper contacts as well). You can then soldier your input wires to the electrical tab from the trucks and the other to the frame.
Hope this helps.
Take care and good luck!
I only have one old athearn model and when I come think of it may not be worth it doesn’ t run very good anyway
You can remotor an old Athearn locomotive with a new motor. I have an SD-45 from the 80s and after repainting in the MoPac scheme and a remotor, it runs and looks great.
Digitrax makes drop-in DCC decoders with clips that goes right onto the motors of old blue-box Athearns: DZ123AT and DZ163AT.
Athearns have mechanisms that are basically sound, but requires a tune-up in order to run well-- Deburr/toothpaste-polish all the gears and truck innards, tighten up worm play by putting in washers, make sure the flywheels are centered and true, and properly lubricate all moving parts with plastic-compatible grease and oil where appropriate.
Most of my motive fleet are Athearns and the oldest one is a GP38-2 which I bought in 1991. Still runs very well after all these years.
Hope this helps.
A friend of mine installed a DCC decoder in a 30 year old Athearn U Boat. The one thing he emphasizes is to make sure you inspect the drive train for slack in the worm gears and shafts. Polishing the gears with tooth polish really quiets them down. Make sure the unit is not an “amp eater” as some older Athearns can pull 2 or 3 amps.
My BB SD9, which I bought in 1979, pulls 2 amps. I’m not going to invest in repowering it. Though noisy, it’s a very good, heavy, runner. It sat in a box for over 10 years and since the Milwaukee Road scheme is still in excellent shape I’m giving it away to a teen-newbie modeler who runs a DC only layout with “jerky running” Bachmann units. I think he’ll enjoy this unit.