DCC Into Kato GG1

[Bob Bufkin]

Just spent the better part of an hour installing a DCC board into a Kato GG1.  Miracle - it works!  This loco has too damn man little parts and removing the body is a pain.  The trucks come off easily and I had several small gears drop off.  Luckily they didn't fly off into the sunset.  I had 1 part (a clear plastic piece) which didn't go back on but it didn't affect the running any.  Lights work in both direction, etc.  Runs a lot smoother in DCC than in DC.  For some reason I handle this loco with care.  All those wheels to get on the track, etc.  Did find one spot where it derails (using Kato Unitrack).  At least I have some confidence when I receive the Tuscan Red GG1 to go ahead and install the decoder.

[Bob Bufkin]

I have to add that after an hour of running, the traction tire came off one end and will not stay on.  Anyone have any solutions to this?

[Walkercolt]

You can "glue" a traction tire on with clear gloss or matte finish, but I think I'd give Kato Customer Service a line or a call on a brand-new engine. I'd think it'd be a drop-in like the traction tired driver on the Mikes. :-\

[central.vermont]

I have to add that after an hour of running, the traction tire came off one end and will not stay on.  Anyone have any solutions to this?

Sounds like a candidate for this stuff they call Bullfrog Snot! ;D

[Bob Bufkin]

Traction tire wouln't stay on.  I removed it and it hasn't hurt performance any.  I am going to get in touch with Kato and get another one.

[pnolan48]

After a careful install, I cannot get it to respond on NCE's programming track. Help!

[bsoplinger]

I've done tons of installs but I too had trouble with this one. The way the board actually makes contact with the frame at the contact pads require the board to be put into the loco so that its under tension and is bent. I made the mistake of carefully squaring out the corners of the board so it would sit flush without being under tension when I first did the install. I then spent a half hour trying to figure out why a perfectly good board (checked it with the NCE decoder test board) in a perfectly good loco (put the original board in and made sure it still ran on DC) wouldn't go. It would run just fine when I had the board just put in place but when I replaced the gray cover which holds the board in place and the light pipe the loco just sat there.

Bottom line, after my 'correction' to the board the contacts never actually contacted the frame (the light pipe pushed down just a bit on the board, but enough to remove any contact between the pads on the board and the frame where it sits). A bit of soldier on the pads fixed that problem and now my GG1 runs beautifully.

So my suggestion to pnolan48, make sure the pads on the end of the board where it sits in the frame are actually touching the frame when you have the loco put together.

[Powersteamguy1790]

I have to add that after an hour of running, the traction tire came off one end and will not stay on.  Anyone have any solutions to this?

Take some paint or nail polish and brush it thinly on driver and then replace the traction tire. It won't come off.

Stay cool and run steam....

[keystonecrossings]

Did you use the Digitrax decoder made for the GG1?

http://www.digitrax.com/prd_mobdec_dn163k1d.php

[Bob Bufkin]

Jerry.  I used the Digitrax.  Easy enough install.  It's getting the body off and not losing any parts on the trucks that's a pain.

[pnolan48]

Thanks for the tip bsoplinger. My next question: where are the wheel contacts coming up from the main trucks supposed to sit? In the middle of the contact strips, which causes quite a bow, or on the inside or even the outside?

[rtroop]

Thanks for the tip bsoplinger. My next question: where are the wheel contacts coming up from the main trucks supposed to sit? In the middle of the contact strips, which causes quite a bow, or on the inside or even the outside?

Check the Kato web site:

http://www.katousa.com/N/GG1/maint/GG1Wipe1.jpg

[pnolan48]

Thanks for the tip bsoplinger. My next question: where are the wheel contacts coming up from the main trucks supposed to sit? In the middle of the contact strips, which causes quite a bow, or on the inside or even the outside?

Check the Kato web site:

http://www.katousa.com/N/GG1/maint/GG1Wipe1.jpg

Thanks! That's a pain to maintain! But that's probably my problem: they came the wrong way!