I have a few ancient Rivarossi articulated locos and would like fit them for DCC. They have the old style motor .Do I have to repower or fit high amp decoders?
Posted by Challenger (Member # 1298) on :
In your scenareo, it really comes out a wash. I am in the custom painting business and do decoder instiallation as part of my packagae. I have found that while you can go ahead and use a high amperage decoder in your old high amp locos, a new low amparage motor is usually cheaper than than the High Amp decoder. In one instance on a Brass Pacific Fast Mail 4-6-2, the new motor and decoder combined were the same price as a High Amp decoder. So its up to you what you want to do.
Posted by Kennedy Model Trains (Member # 808) on :
You would probably be best off both repowering and regearing. Depending on the specific model of your locomotives, NWSL may make gears and wheelsets for them, and this, with a new motor, can allow much more realistic operation. Also, I believe you can only get "silent" decoders as low-amp models.
Jared
Posted by Cthetrains (Member # 2148) on :
As far as your situation goes, how long has it been since the loco's were operated? if they have been 'dead' for a while, it would probably prevent semi-costly, time-consuming repowering and re-gearing 4 or 5 months from now, if you go ahead and take care of those jobs now, rather than hoping the old motors and gearsets hold up.