My collection is based on ERA III and I wish to add a small diesel shunter.

The appropriate item appears to be the 37655 but although it has a mfx decoder with 5 physical functions, there are no sounds effects.

The loco 37616 is a similar loco but from ERA IV. It too has a mfx decoder with (almost) the same physical functions but in addition has nine sound effects.

So my question is, can the 37655 be 'retrofitted' with the sounds of the 37616?

I have a CS2 and was wondering if the 37655's mfx decoder can be 'back-loaded' with diesel sounds from the Marklin upgrade facility?

Cheers,
Neil

Thanks Francis?,

So, although both locos are mfx equipped, the 37655 has only the mLD version whilst the 37616 has the mSD version. Pity.

Cheers,
Neil

Yes, mfx according to Marklin products site. Haven't bought the loco yet - still researching. I was contemplating a sixties vintage model and converting it with mSD. However, they have plastic bodies and the latest is metal - much nicer in my opinion.

I can recommend retirement over working 18 hour days.

Cheers,
Neil

No, never. All mfx decoders are locked against updates (except early ones from around 2004 (but it takes ESU equipment to update those)).

A sound decoder is different physically: sound processor plus amplifier. You cannot upgrade silent decoders to become sound decoders. And locos without sound do not come with speakers.

The old mfx decoder will be plugged in. A sound decoder will probably be larger and may not fit - and you also have to find room for the speaker.

The 3065 has a plastic cover that may be thicker or otherwise different.
They may have changed the frame to allow a speaker (I don't know, I don't have that loco).
You can get a speaker in, but you may have to modify the frame.

The decoder in the 37655 will most likely be an ESU decoder that has nothing in common with a 60942. Depending on date of manufacture, it may be a crippled 60942 (no DCC, locked) as the loco was offered for several years.
The decoder in the 37616 will be a 60946 (same hardware, but no DCC and locked against updates).

Maybe someone who has the 37616 and an earlier metal V 60 without sound can compare the internals, maybe even show some pictures.

This is correct and a good observation. I believe the telex magnets on the "old" style still sit under the chassis, so I think the question is whether the chassis dimensions are modified to accommodate this or if both are the same.

37655 - "old" style telex - chassis part number 406835
37616 - "new" style telex - chassis part number not recorded

Other differences worth pointing out (but not directly related to decoder conversions):

37655 - one traction tire - 2007-2012
37616 - two traction tires - 2012 MHI

I have attached the parts diagrams for both locomotives for comparison. To me, it looks like they use the same chassis (both using a DCM motor as well). I actually have a 37615 on order, I can take some pictures when it arrives if that helps. 37615 has the old style telex and two traction tires, and I think was another 2012 MHI. To me the construction of this loco also seems similar (if not identical) to 37655 and 37616. All three models are marked in the product database as mostly metal, but I am not sure if the shell is metal on any of them, or if it's really just that the chassis is so heavy.

-Brandon

Thanks Tom, seems like some recycling going on.

Regarding the traction tires, 37655 in the product database says "traction tire" and 37615 says "traction tires". It may be accurate, or just a translation issue. I had seen this discussion before, but not sure if it's based on product DB or experience:

https://www.marklin-users.net/fo...67457_Telex-choices.aspx

I found this post on Stummi which may help with sound conversion on 37655. There are some images that may help.



-Brandon

Very interesting and extremely confusing. Explosion diagrams that can't be trusted. Product descriptions that are ambiguous or non-specific. Just what are Marklin playing at? A game of 'confuse the customer' methinks!

Anyway, some observations from the Marklin website:

1. The Marklin Product data base for 37655 states: "Traction tires" (plural). Parts list doesn't state how many.

2. The exploded diagram for the 37655's mfx components lists:

23 117586 Decoder MFX Progr.o. Sound 112084 (currently not available)
23 611868 LEITERPLATTE MTC DELTA (not available)
24 E405040 Halteplatte (Delta) 5 Stück (in stock)

3. The exploded diagram for the 37616's mfx component lists:

12 118619 Decoder M4v4 m. Sound o. ex P171344/37616 (currently not available)

4. The 37655's front and rear couplers consist of:

33 E205371 Anker (TELEX) (in stock)
34 E213870 Magnet (in stock)
35 E298470 KUPPLUNGSHAKEN (in stock)

5. The 37616's front and rear couplings are:

20 E117993 Telexkupplung für V90 (in stock)

The 37616's E117993 coupler appears to me to protrude further, is bulkier and doesn't look as good as the 37655's couplers.

I wonder how Marklin decides which type of coupler is to be installed on a loco. In addition to the above two Telex types, I also found a 210133 Telex installed on a 37953 BR03. Then there is the 701630 close coupler.

On looking through publications "Summer New Items 2013" and "Fall New Items for 2012", there is only one loco (37616) listed with Telex couplings. Have Telex couplings fallen out of favour? It would seem that the 701630 close coupler is most commonly fitted.

Cheers,
Neil

Edited by user 26 October 2013 03:38:08(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

Thank you Adrian. Photos would help, especially of the internals showing the placement of the decoder. I guess there's room for a mSD decoder and speaker as the loco appears dimensionally identical to the 37616. By the way, the Marklin parts diagram for 37615 lists for the coupler assembly:

23 E205371 Anker (TELEX) (in stock)
24 E214050 MAGN.ZU TELEXKUPPL. (in stock)
25 E298470 KUPPLUNGSHAKEN (in stock)

So yet another variation of the Telex coupler. It would appear that the magnet has been upgraded? Can this magnet replace the previous E213870 I wonder.

To me, your 37615's couplers look much neater than those on the 37616.

Also, what's the complete road number? 260 XXX-X

Neil

try this one,

2 of my converted locos (3065) with a 5 pole motor and 1 has an ESU sound decoder + speaker

ballbearings on commuter shaft and led's (white-red)



John

Entertaining video John and a magnificently detailed layout.

Ball bearings on commuter shaft? Should that be commutator shaft? Where do you source the ball bearings?

Cheers,
Neil

Marklin Telex Era II are so rare...
On the last decade before 2013, I knew only one...

Apparently I am wrong (not uncommon):

37862 appears to have the old style telex (as noted in another thread).. It's a set of two BR 86, but looking at the photos I suspect they are based on the 3096 tooling, meaning they would use a similar coupler design (probably different/newer magnets) to the original BR86 telex locos. If Marklin does a new tooling for BR86, I imagine there will be no more with old style telex.

-Brandon

Thank you Adrian and Brandon for the excellent photos you have provided. I now believe that I have learnt all the detail I was seeking in my original post, which I think can now be ended.

However I do have some more questions on Telex's but I will follow that up in the more appropriate topic at:

https://www.marklin-user...aspx?g=posts&t=27407

One last question. What cameras are you using to achieve such great close-ups?

Cheers,
Neil

Hi Neil, my two cents worth from Parkwood on the Gold Coast. I installed an ESU Loksound V3.0 decoder into my #37655. Pictures below are of my conversion that was done a while ago:

Hi Neil,

I have the 37650. It has a plastic body. I think it was the last red V60 Marklin made with the plastic body as they changed to a metal one shortly after.

Thanks Ray,
Cheers, Neil

Hi Neil, 37650 is plastic:

http://www.maerklin.de/produkte...amp;merkmale=&show=d

37655 is a bit of both:

http://www.maerklin.de/de/servi...etails.html?art_nr=37655

The main difference between 3064 and 3065 is that 3064 has no Telex. A couple of different versions of each were produced, with different road numbers:

3064 1963-1968 Relais SFCM III V60 1009 DB rot
3065 1963-1968 Relais SFCM III V60 1009 DB rot, Telex
3064 1969-1983 Relais SFCM IV 260 417-1 DB rot
3065 1969-1992 Relais SFCM IV 260 417-1 DB rot, Telex

see Helmut Kern's site for all versions of the V60 up to 2004

http://www.bahn.hfkern.d...erklin/Dt_Loks_V260.html

Thanks all. That makes it all much clearer.

Cheers,
Neil

Hi Neil, the Marklin #37655 which is the one you saw in the pictures above has globes namely #610080 specific for digital. Loco came with that already installed. No led's & no cab light. Simple & easy conversion.

Hi Neil, All,

I have the 37655, and as I too had wondered about how easy it would be to upgrade to sounds I took the top off and found it is exactly the same as Brandon's 37615 as in above pic !

Firstly I can confirm the 37655 does have two tyres mounted on the rear axle ! and is an excellent choice for an Era III model of the V60 IMHO

It has 21 pin decoder so an ESU one or a Marklin 21 MSD could be very easily retrofitted, however there seems to be little room for the speaker. But..............!

Also the ESU V4 decoders have few functions amplified, so an MSD would be the better choice, as it has all functions amplified (ie with enough watts/output to operate Telex, lights etc) and Marklin do have a downloadable sound project for the V60/260.
Another plus for an MSD is the Marklin wiring colours are the same.

As for the speaker, space for that is likely to be a problem, so an internal pic of a37616 would be enlightening for all because as previosly mentioned, the parts digrams are no help at all !

What Dave has done is fit a wired type ESU V3 decoder and done away with the 21 pin decoder board, allowing room for the speaker/s, those twin ones are quite small.

That said I see in Adrian's pics of his 37617 that M have sat the oblong box speaker, one of which comes with an MSD, where the decoder board used to be and the decoder board on top of that. I may be necessary to change the decoder board as the original one looks likely to foul the cog wheel protruding from the front of the motor block and I have just checked with the leftover one from my V90 conversion and it is a bit shorter, enough to not foul the cog !
You will notice in Adrian's pic of his 37617 that the original bulb holder posts appear to be still there but the front light LED is on the front of the decoder board and the rear light LED board is mounted on the rear light post. If you wanted to buy two of the rear LED light boards from Marklin they are available @6eu each and I think could be used in both positions

I have had a similar conversion done to my 37900 V90 using a Marklin 21 pin MSD, those small twin speakers, mounted in the allready factory fitted speaker cups, and the 117993 telex couplers and it works well, but those add on couplers can be fragile and I've had to replace three allready and I've hardly used it, altho two were damaged in the conversion process when mucking about with different decoders, so were either DOA or got spiked in the process, they do not take track voltage btw !!!

Personally I would have to admitt that I will not be in any hurry to upgrade my 37655 to sounds, however when I get my layout operational I may change my mind

Thanks guys. All excellent advice and pics. However, I'm still a bit puzzled by the product description for the 37655 on the Marklin website which states:

Highlights:
- Metal version

I took this to mean that both the 'chassis' and the 'cab body were metal rather than the cab body still being plastic but it appears I am mistaken. Is something lost in translation??

Brandon states: "37650 is plastic body according to the Marklin DB" but I couldn't find that 'fact' there. He then states "The 37615 I got has a metal body, but the upper cab is still plastic"

Ray refers to 'body' meaning the upper cab component.

So I think what Brandon calls 'body' is what I would call 'chassis' or 'frame' and his 'upper cab' is what I have thought of as 'body'. The exploded diagrams aren't much help. Perhaps part no 26 refers to the 'chassis' (i'm not sure). In German that's a 'TREIBGESTELL' which translates to 'driftwood frame'; 'frame' is OK for 'chassis', but 'driftwood'???

Could someone please provide the correct terminology for these two components so that we can clearly understand what is being referred to.

Neil

Thanks Brandon, much appreciated.

I obviously didn't take notice of the Features icons. I've now Googled the subject and located at:

http://www.maerklin.de/e...ten.html?sCountryCode=en

a listing of Marklin icons with explanations and I now understand the significance of the various icons depicting metal and (I presume) plastic combinations. I also note that the terms 'frame' and 'body' are used.

It now all makes sense and I will definitely pay close attention to these icons and their significance in the future.

Thank you for your patience,
Neil