I have found a mint in box older P2K BL2 for a great price and I am trying to find the best way to put a decoder in it. It seems to be wired a little different from an athearn but maybe I am wrong. It has the metal clip on top of the motor where it picks up power from only one side. It also has a blue wire going to the frame from the plastic “light board” and a red wire going to the bottom clip of the motor. The motor does seem isolated from the frame but maybe I just cannot see the tongs on the bottom.
Have any of you put a decoder in this particular loco? Would one of Digitrax DH123AT for the older Athearns be advantageous or just the plain DH123D be better? What did you use?
The only thing the DH123AT buys you is the wires are already soldered to repalcement motor clips. You can save money and just solder your own wires. Since the loco is pretty much a direct copy of an AThearn, the same methods typically apply to isolate the motor. Insulate the motor cavity with a layer of tape, and clip off any protrusion on the bottom motor clip that is used to contact the frame (to keep it from eventually wearing through the tape).
I second Randy on testing the motors! I have 4 of them and two eat decoders! (other 2 have never had a decoder installed) All so expect to replaces some gears, theses are 20+ year old engines. I replaced some gear’s in everyone of mine, but it is easy.
I like the DH163TA. One that last the longest had a DH163 (I hard wired it) and ran well for around 40 hours. Motor finally went bad, and ate the decoder.
SB, test the motor first. Proto used good motors, but I ran the heck out of mine till I went DCC. If you do re-motor, I would look at a good quality replacement motor. Athearn motors are kind of hit and miss if you ask me.
What is the road name of your BL 2? Mine are Monon.
Mine is in the Missouri Pacific as delivered scheme. Very tough to do on a BL2. By the way I love the Monon’s paint scheme. I’m also a fan of John Barriger’s business models. My Granddad worked for the MKT from 1918 to 1967 and always gave him the credit for saving the Katy. Deramus pretty much bled them dry.
Would love to figure a way to work some Monon locomotives on my cental Texas themed layout. Especially the red/gray passenger as it reminds me of my old high school colors.
Thanks for the advice. I may look to repower with at least as Atlas can as I want to run this with some Intermountain FT’s.