Author Topic: Z - MTL SD40-2 & Digitrax DZ123M0  (Read 154 times)

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EspeeGoldenState

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Z - MTL SD40-2 & Digitrax DZ123M0
« on: July 17, 2026, 06:33:02 PM »
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So I feel I may be a little out of my league on this, but first time playing with Z scale. I have a MTL UP 3593 I'm trying to install a DZ123M0 into. Do I need to modify the chassis to get this board to fit properly? What about the 4 springs from the DC board? The instructions only show me reattaching the springs on either side to the decoder




Attempting to model a modern Southern Pacific based in 2015/2016...

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Re: Z - MTL SD40-2 & Digitrax DZ123M0
« Reply #1 on: July 20, 2026, 01:11:26 PM »
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I've been there myself and I found out that it is not a plug and play solution.
If I remember correctly the two springs to connect the motor to the board will go to the other two contacts to the right. Instead of the springs, I used two short pieces of wire and soldered it to the motor contacts and the board.
I also cut off the four slots/notches which hold the board. Instead I placed the DCC board with the four contact pads directly on top of the former four notches and fixed it with capton tape.
For better connectivity I put some solder on the four pads at the bottom of the board.

That worked quite well.
Thomas

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