First Gen. N scale Kato SD45 DCC install

[ATSF_Ron]

I have a couple first gen Kato SD45s in SP that I need to DCC.  I have a couple TCS CN-GP decoders I'm using.  The frame and motor setup are similar to the GP30s I've recently done, just a bit longer.  I'm at the testing stage before shortening up wires to their final correct length.  At first when I placed it on the track to test, there was nothing.  No lights, no movement. I touched the rear board and it moved.  So I figure it's a loose fitting board.  I shimmed it with a tiny piece of copy paper as I did with one of my GP30s.  It sort of worked.  Now it runs, but operation is jerky at speed steps under 10.  Even over 10, actually but it's better.  There is also still no lighting.  I've double checked the usual (for me) suspects.  Solder joints, loose screws, contact wipers, everything seems normal.  I'm thinking this may be symptomatic of a common problem, but this is only the 4th DCC hardwire I've done.  Does anyone have a thought on this?

In the pics below (2nd one is a closeup) you can see the motor brush areas on the top & bottom of the motor.  Those are where the gray and orange wires to the motor are soldered.  I did wrap them in two layers of Kapton tape, but I'm thinking that might be the problem area anyway.  One of the solder joints (top) had a sharpish area on the solder joint.  It could be momentarily touching the frame.  Yep, should've redone it or filed it first.  Beyond that, does anyone have a suggestion of where to start troubleshooting this? 


Thanks guys,

ATSF_Ron

[ATSF_Ron]

I decided to pull everything apart and just redo the motor wiring.  Upon closer inspection, the motor contact points looked like they had punctured the Kapton tape.  I cleaned up the solder joints and put everything back together.  Works like a champ!  The number boards will obviously need some attention, as well as adding some sun shades and classic SP grime!  If I recall correctly, the SP lights on the front were a Sunrise product.  This was 30 years ago, so my memory isn't clear on that.  These SP units are among my favorites in my fleet.  Smooth and quiet drive (even before the DCC), as well as great runners and pullers.  The pair of them even MU'ed together well while still in DC, so hopefully I won't have to tweak them too much in DCC to speed match.