I have been given old locos I wish to convert to DCC. I have been told that I must replace the motors with can motors due to interference. Is this true?
Any advice?
I’m new at this.
Short answer: no, interference is not an issue.
Long answer: There are legitimate reasons to replace motors, particularly when converting to DCC. Interference is not one of them.
When installing a DCC decoder, there are several factors that need to be taken into account during the planning phase.
- Are you doing the installations yourself? Are you familiar with (or willing to learn by doing) measuring current draws of a locomotive/motor under various conditions? How about cleaning and lubing a mechanism? Or adjusting gear mesh? Or adding washers to reduce axial play on the worm shaft? Are you willing to add pickups to a steam engine, or hard wire truck connections in a diesel? These questions are all aimed at getting a better performing locomotive. Adding a decoder by itself does not really improve performance.
- An old open frame motor may have issues by itself. Magnets may have lost some of their strength. Brushes and bearings may be worn. Replacing magnets with a rare earth magnet stack will make an otherwise good open frame motor better than new. Finding replacement brushes is an iffy proposition, as are bearings.
- Current draw at wheel slip and/or motor stall determines current rating of the decoder. Using the stall current protects the decoder, but could kill the motor if things go really wrong. Using slip current reverses the protection. But this is not the issue it used to be unless you are looking at using N or Z decoders or a Tsunami 750 in an HO locomotive. Remotoring with a good can motor will drive currents down (often in half or better), provided the mech
What Fred said[bow]
Dave
A few years back, I returned to the hobby after a 40-year absence. I hauled my trains down from the attic where they’d spent most of those years. I put decoders is several of them.
It really didn’t work all that well. Most of the engines just weren’t worth the effort. When they ran at all, these engines were noisy, and tended to stall. The wheelsets were old, too. For what I would have had to pay for a new motor and trucks, I replaced the entire locomotive and ended up with a better-looking, better running model. I have taken the motors out of a couple of those old relics, installed sound-only decoders, and I now run them as “honorary” dummy engines. I just didn’t want to toss those “old friends” that had been with me for so long.
Have you tried these engines on a DC track? That will give you the best indication of how good they are. If they are smooth and quiet, then they’re good candidates for decoders. But, if they more hesitantly or are reluctant to move at all, even after cleaning and lubrication, you might want to think again about their value.
I agree with the others. While I have never met a locomotive I could not convert, sometimes it is not worth the effort. If they are good runners and prized models then yes replace the motors and add decoders. If they are marginal runners and/or not treasures just something old that you have, I would seriously consider them on a one by one basis.
Mr. “B” got this one.
I had the same experience with engines from the 1970’s. When all was done they still ran like old engines.
I removed the decoders and the engines I tossed, put away or gave away.
Maybe if they are ones that you just can not get now days and must have them then only you can decide if you are up to spending the time and money it will take to work on them.
If your motor runs smoothly and quietly (and I’ve known many open-frame motors that do) all you really need to do is isolate the brush on the motor that is grounded to the frame/right-side wheels. The reason is that the pickup from BOTH rails must go through the decoder before it gets to the motor. Replacing the motor, while a good solution to a noisy, high-current motor, is not strictly necessary in all cases.
Hi!
Have to agree with the others… If a loco is a good runner in DC, it maybe worth converting to DCC. But, some of the conversions are just not worth the effort - unless of course you really enjoy those kind of projects.
On the other side of the fence, if the loco isn’t that great of a runner in DC, I wouldn’t waste time/money on adding a decoder - unless the motor was also replaced. But, I can’t see that to be worthwhile unless it is a very special loco.
To add to the subject… when I converted to DCC I had a couple Kato locos that were really nice in all respects. But, converting them to DCC was a major effort - and so I just sold them on Ebay.