Bowser to DCC was Re: Rivarossi Y6b question

[nw-modeling-list at nwhs.org]

I have also had great luck with swapping the Bowser motor for a "Helix
Humper" or similar repower system.  THOSE motors can allow you to actually
scotch tape the decoder inside a tender and run one power wire to the engine
frame and one to the tender frame and then to the motor.  I've done this on
a Bowser PRR 2-10-0 as a demo for George Hughes.  I guess he still has it!?

The J refit also allows you to fix the cylinders and valve gear and add
spoked wheels for that "as delivered" look.  I used the Bachman trailer
truck because the one provided by Bowser was incorrect.  The now empty
plastic J body allows you to pack it with Lead wheel weights!

Mark Lindsey




> From: <nw-modeling-list at nwhs.org>

> Reply-To: N and W Modeling List <nw-modeling-list at nwhs.org>

> Date: Mon, 20 Feb 2006 08:33:32 -0500

> To: N and W Modeling List <nw-modeling-list at nwhs.org>

> Subject: Re: Bowser to DCC was Re: Rivarossi Y6b question

> 

> Wow Nigel you are a wealth of information. I will have to look at my kit and

> make sure its got the old motor but from the instructions included I am

> pretty sure it is non-DCC motor. That was really the only thing holding me

> back from making that conversion, which would give me three operating J's on

> my layout along with three Y6b's and an E2 so far....

> 

> Bob Welsh

> 

> ----- Original Message -----

> From: <nw-modeling-list at nwhs.org>

> To: "N and W Modeling List" <nw-modeling-list at nwhs.org>

> Sent: Sunday, February 19, 2006 9:08 PM

> Subject: Bowser to DCC was Re: Rivarossi Y6b question

> 

> 

>> Hi Bob;

>> 

>> On your Bowser kit, trade the motor in for a new one that is DCC ready

>> with a skew wound armature and high energy magnets.  Scroll down to near

>> the bottom of:  http://www.bowser-trains.com/hoother/dcc/dcc.htm

>> 

>> Alternatively, an Alliance Helix Humper.  http://www.alliancelink.com/alp/

>> 

>> For a decoder: Digitrax DH123D is one of the many choices.

>> http://www.digitrax.com/prd_mobdec_dh123d.php

>> and if you need more than two functions DH163

>> http://www.digitrax.com/prd_mobdec_dh163d.php

>> 

>> There are many other decoder options out there including Lenz, TCS, NCE

>> and others that will also work well for you.

>> 

>> Nigel F Misso

>> nfmisso at mchsi.com

>> 

>> ----- Original Message -----

>> From: <nw-modeling-list at nwhs.org>

>> To: "N and W Modeling List" <nw-modeling-list at nwhs.org>

>> Sent: Sunday, February 19, 2006 11:59 AM

>> Subject: Re: Rivarossi Y6b question

>> 

>> 

>>> Hmmmm is that a really complicated operation? I have been considering

>>> replacing the motor and trying to make it a simpler operation. Likewise,

>>> I have the bowser re-motor kit for a J and it appears that making this a

>>> DCC-ready locomotive would be a bear. Anyone done it successfully and

>>> able to share a few pointers?

>>> 

>>> Bob Welsh

>>> ----- Original Message -----

>>> From: <nw-modeling-list at nwhs.org>

>>> To: "N and W Modeling List" <nw-modeling-list at nwhs.org>

>>> Sent: Sunday, February 19, 2006 1:53 AM

>>> Subject: Re: Rivarossi Y6b question

>>> 

>>> 

>>>> Hi Bob;

>>>> 

>>>> For the motor in the cab units, you may want to replace the Rivarossi

>>>> motor with a Mashima, or NWSL motor.  The swap will provide better

>>>> operation, and easier DCC conversion.

>>>> 

>>>> Nigel F Misso

>>>> nfmisso at mchsi.com

>>>> 

>>>> ----- Original Message -----

>>>> From: <nw-modeling-list at nwhs.org>

>>>> To: "N and W Modeling List" <nw-modeling-list at nwhs.org>

>>>> Sent: Saturday, February 18, 2006 7:06 AM

>>>> Subject: Re: Rivarossi Y6b question

>>>> 

>>>> 

>>>>> Wow i posted this more than a week ago.

>>>>> I have since determined that i have one unit with the motor in the

>>>>> center and two with the motors in the cab. In either case it appears I

>>>>> have to do some modification to the frame of the motors at least on the

>>>>> cab-mounted ones to make it work electrically. I have not had time

>>>>> since I last posted to really forge ahead on this but I will make

>>>>> careful notes in case someone else comes along behind me needing

>>>>> advice, just as several of you on here have done for me. Thanks!

>>>>> 

>>>>> Bob Welsh

>>>>> 

>>>>> 

>>>>> ----- Original Message -----

>>>>> From: <nw-modeling-list at nwhs.org>

>>>>> To: <nw-modeling-list at nwhs.org>

>>>>> Sent: Friday, February 17, 2006 10:19 PM

>>>>> Subject: Re: Rivarossi Y6b question

>>>>> 

>>>>> 

>>>>>> motor in the cab....and as best as I can figure I will have to tip

>>>>>> apart the front of the locomotive to get at the light to isolate it as

>>>>>> I can only locate one of the headlamp leads...

>>>>>> 

>>>>>> Bob Welsh

>>>>>> 

>>>>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: <nw-modeling-list at nwhs.org>

>>>>>> To: "N and W Modeling List" <nw-modeling-list at nwhs.org>

>>>>>> Sent: Saturday, February 11, 2006 11:58 PM

>>>>>> Subject: Re: Rivarossi Y6b question

>>>>>> 

>>>>>> 

>>>>>>> Hi Bob;

>>>>>>> 

>>>>>>> Reading your note, I think that you have things pretty well scoped

>>>>>>> out. Both the motor and headlight get power from the frame.  You must

>>>>>>> sever those connections.

>>>>>>> 

>>>>>>> Get out your multimeter, and make sure the motor and the light bulb

>>>>>>> are isolated, then hook up the decoder.

>>>>>>> 

>>>>>>> You may want to add a resistor in series with the light bulb so that

>>>>>>> it does not get excessively hot and melt the shell.

>>>>>>> 

>>>>>>> Which version(s) of the Riv Y6b do you have; motor in cab or motor in

>>>>>>> the center?

>>>>>>> 

>>>>>>> Nigel F Misso

>>>>>>> nfmisso at mchsi.com

>>>>>>> 

>>>>>>> 

>>>>>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: <nw-modeling-list at nwhs.org>

>>>>>>> To: "N and W Modeling List" <nw-modeling-list at nwhs.org>

>>>>>>> Sent: Saturday, February 11, 2006 3:15 PM

>>>>>>> Subject: Rivarossi Y6b question

>>>>>>> 

>>>>>>> 

>>>>>>>> I need a little help here. I have three of these. I am planning on

>>>>>>>> putting DCC decoders in them. I have one of them open on my workbench

>>>>>>>> now. I need help in determining:

>>>>>>>> 

>>>>>>>> A) which wires are for what - from my eyes it LOOKS like the motor

>>>>>>>> gets half its power from a pickup on the engineer side wired to a

>>>>>>>> contact on the motor and the other side of the power through the

>>>>>>>> locomotive frame to the case of the motor. I have figured out how to

>>>>>>>> isolate that to get to the DCC decoded I think.

>>>>>>>> 

>>>>>>>> B) how does the headlight get its power? I can see one wire that

>>>>>>>> leads from the motor case to the front. Therefore I am assuming the

>>>>>>>> other half the bulb's power is also coming from the frame? I am

>>>>>>>> scared to tear the thing apart much more without knowing what I am

>>>>>>>> doing. I had a lot less trouble putting a decoder in an early 60's

>>>>>>>> Mantua Pacific in the course of making N&W #578.

>>>>>>>> 

>>>>>>>> Any help would be appreciated.. feel free to post it here or email me

>>>>>>>> directly at bob at firedogwireless.com. If putting my email address in

>>>>>>>> this post is taboo, Mr Moderator, please edit it out and send the

>>>>>>>> post on... I really want to run something other than a J, the E2 or

>>>>>>>> an inappropriate 2-10-0 on my newly-updated to DCC layout....

>>>>>>>> 

>>>>>>>> Bob Welsh

>>>>>>>> 

>>>>>>>> ________________________________________

>>>>>>>> NW-Modeling-List at nwhs.org

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>>>>>>> 

>>>>>>> 

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>>>>>> 

>>>>>> 

>>>>>> 

>>>>>> 

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>>>>> 

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