I am trying to install a decoder into me proto e8 (its #2020, so it's from the first run) and I can't get the screws that hold the weight out. I got one of the four loose. Any one know any special tricks to getting these out? Ethan
I remember having the same experience with those models (I have a dozen or so first run E8s). The best I can tell you is to make sure the screwdriver blade is exactly the right size for the head of the screw (so you don't booger it up), turn it upside down on a strong surface or clamp the weight in a vise and then press REALLY hard. If you do mess one up and you end up drilling it out, I have some spares that I would be happy to send you, no charge. GS
One additional trick besides Greg's to removing screws that have had thread lock on them is to first try to move them in the tighten direction, then loosen.
I have completed two of these. Would you just shoot maybe one shot of the completed job inside. There may be a easier way of doing it. Mine was a little on the difficult side. The speaker attached to the top, made a tight fit. I would enjoy seeing how you do the job. William Jackson
With my installations, the TSU-1000 decoder goes in the cab area and the bass reflex speaker enclosure with the 23mm x 23mm high bass speaker goes above the rear truck. I use double sided tape to hold the wires in place and Kapton tape anchors the speaker enclosure to the frame. Note that the capacitor resides under the cab floor at the front of the frame. It and the decoder are held in place with 3M Body Trim mounting tape. The original bulbs are replaced with LEDs. p.s. Right Click on the thumbnails and select Open Link in New Tab to see the picture at best resolution. This was my very first sound installation (of over 260); it was done for Terry Jankowski (tmfrisco). The suggested speaker and speaker enclosure did not yield a very good sound, thus I designed my own, and I have been designing my own enclosures and baffles ever since using skills learned designing speaker enclosures in the late 60's.
Here is a shot of mine, the way a guy showed me to do the installation. Its a little difficult to get the body on, but seems to work good. William Jackson Just good to see the different ways.
Update: 3 of the 4 screws are out. 2 of them required a set of vice grips on the screw driver to get extra force. The fourth stripped out so I had to drill it out. I am now getting ready to start wiring it. While I have the weight off I am going to put some conductive contact lube on the motor communicator. Ethan
Greg, thanks for the offer, but I think 3 will hold it in place and the fourth that I drilled out is stuck in there. Ethan
