My local hobby shop (Toms Trains - wethersfield, CT) has quoted a $10 install charge for decoder (not required to purchase from them, but I would) in my 15yo Kato GP35-1a (have two). This seem rather low and might be ignoring lighting issues/replacements.
Online pricing (e.g., Tony’s) are 4 times that. So… What am I missing here? What questions should I be asking (and what are good answers) prior to committing to have them do the install.
PS I would undertake this myself, but rather not gain experience on my only two locomotive conversions (new ones are DCC ready or equipped).
They’ve obviously done similar installs in similar models and know exactly what is required. Perhaps it’s a simple light board replacement job which requires minimal effort and time.
Let them select the decoder. The only thing I would ask is that they NOT use an MRC decoder due to their reliability problem, and that they change the yellow LED headlight that Kato used with a golden glow LED.
Wow! Thats a great deal. I’d at least take them one of my engines and see how it turns out. If they did a good job, I’d bring them everything. I have a LHS who quoted me $25 to install board replacement decoders & $35-$40 for wired. I thought that was a pretty good deal.
I’d be willing o bet that with a 15 year old engine, they might not be able to do it for that cheap. It may not be DCC ready.
Yeah, that’s pretty cheap. I had a sound decoder installed in a Proto S1. The labor was $35, which I think was a bargain, particularly for a switcher which had no room for a speaker. I’m afraid to pull the shell off to see how he did it, but it sure runs and sounds great.
I’m doing a sound install myself right now. I’ve been at it on and off for 2 days, and all I’ve got is the space milled out for the speaker and decoder. No way I could make a living at this.
Still, he may be sitting around all day without much to do, and a simple non-sound installation under a non-crowded hood doesn’t take long. He may be looking to gain a customer, too. I’d give it a shot.
That ‘old’ Kato probably has the plastic ‘board’ on top. That is a simple board replacement decoder install, although if you want directional lights it takes soem extra work. Those locos have a single bulb in the middle, and light bars to each end. The decoder has the option to solder on the old light bulb so you have controllable but non-directional lights. You have to add a secodn bulb, and cut down the bars to install true directional lighting. I’m sure for $10 they aren;t goign to hook up the lights. Without hookign up the lights, putting a decoder in a Kato with the plastic board on top of the motor is a 5 minute job.
I think the key is they want to be your Hobby Shop! When I was first getting started and stumbled in to K-10 model trains for the first time Ken the owner was very help full answering my dumb questions. As I started to come back more he started giving me parts. At the time I was using horn hook couplers and plastic axle. He gave me discarded Walther’s metal axle and Kadee coupler pockets. In retrospect I understand why he could give me all this stuff for free. But, back then it was great.
That kind effort got me hooked and 4 years later I have spent $4000.00 and that is on the low side. He gave me around $50.00 of free stuff, but I hooked on K-10 Model Trains.
Did some say there LHS want $10.00 to install a decoder in a DCC ready engine? Or did I miss read that part. If so, you need a different LHS. K-10 will install it for free if you bought the decoder from them if they have the time.