Hi,

I have an analog train that I'll like to convert to a digital train. I have never done this before, but beeing a techie I've got no problems jumping into it.
But, where do I start? Are there convertion sets I can use or am I better of doing this step by step buying individual parts?

I hope anybody out there has done something like this and can give me a bundle of good advice.

Johnny

Johnnie

Sorry I am late in getting to you, but I have not really had time lately to view much on the users net. I converted mine several years ago, but I did a full high performance motor upgrade and a LokSound 3.5 decoder. Total cos on a conversion like that is well over 100USD. If you are looking to just make it run digital, the marklin conversion kit above should satisfy you. I have many more things I intend to do with mine whenever get the chance...plan to make the marker lights addressable, include a MARS light, and harwire the three units (I also have a "B" unit) so all functions work in either direction. Maybe a winter project this year.

Added: Actually this is a pretty good lok to do your first conversion on. There is plenty of space in it. Some of them you really have t be creative to get the decoder to fit properly.

Get yourself onto the internet and search ebay.de for conversion sets. around the Euro 30.-- mark.
I've used 5mm led's to fit into the lighthole.
So there are a few options available to you how to convert it.

regards.,
John

I would sell it and buy a new one already converted. I had 22 analog trains that I wanted to convert, but after buying a couple of new digital ones I decided to let go... It was hard at first but once I had my new ones I was much happier. They run so much better and require less work. I am thinking of doing this with my wife too.. haha..

Adrian, get the 60944 kit, that has the motor parts for the LFCM, which includes 2 rotors for both 7 and 8 tooth engines. I don't think this is a SFCM engine.

Adrian, if it is an SFCM, I've probably got the bits required in my "project box".
Give me a ring after this week, and I'll have a look.

I have just converted a 3060, The motor is a Small Flat Commutator Motor SFCM. What I did is remove all the dirt and old oil from the gears using dish soap water and a tooth brush, then oiled the gears again , Then I cleaned the commutator with tooth paste to remove all dirt and carbon. Order kit #64631 from Loksound/Esu this contains the chokes, decoder and magnet plus order new brushes Marklin 601460. Read the instructions 3 or 4 times from loksound then put it back together. Also there are two websites I use http://www.ajckids.com/TRAINS/MAIN.ASP?nr=92 and http://www.esu.eu/en/pro.../lokpilot-digital-sets/,

Good Luck Oliver

Thank you John, Oliver, Jacques, David and Damon,

I have ordered the Marklin 60943 Set and the ESU 64610 M4 v4 decoder. They should arrived in a couple of weeks.

I will also take up John's suggestion to use LEDs. The current one just has one large bulb, which probably will consume buckets of power.

Does anyone know the part number of the tyres - there are two missing and the other two are looking very sad.

I have a few locos and this is the first SFCM I have ever seen.

Here, they just work for themselves : ESU is proposing one single type of decoder that must fit to many many... many different types of motors . That's typically a decoder designed for DCC market. I mean : more useful for two rails market.
2 rails market = a lot of different brands = different models = different design = a lot of different types of motors...Mainly facing to the lack of information about "what kind of motor I got on my 2 rails LOK & how to to have a good tuning"... this may be a better feature to compete other DCC decoders manufacturers, I consider it mainly as a " good commercial argument"...
In the world of Marklin 3 rails users generally don't share same questioning...Marklin has published some lists of models for each kind of Marklin decoders...( actually I would like to find one for myself...;don't remember where it is... )

You are quite welcome.
The tires are 7154.
Have fun with the conversion!
Cheers

Adrian, I would like to convert my BN F7 to sound like this

Good luck with the conversion and update us on your progress.

Here is some more information http://www.maerklinshop....c&cl=sparepartslists

An update. The digital conversion parts arrived last week, but today was the first time in ages that I could get started on the conversion.

Of course, I stripped down the loco and washed all the parts in Kerosene with a brush and then soaked in a white spirit to remove the kerosene. Assembled all the bits with minimal lubrication, and then disassembled and swapped the orange and grey wires so it would run in the correct direction. ESU say grey wire to right side of motor, but it works the other way around.. Must be a northern to southern hemisphere thing..

Configure the decoder with my new Lokprogrammer and V4 of the software. Set for a five pole motor, switch off all the DCC stuff and give the decoder a mFX name.. Very smooth running.

All working well on the roller test stand, so off to start the calibration using WindigiPet. Hits the first turnout and shorts out.. Reset - hits another turnout and it shorts out again. It turns out that the leading edge of the slider is shorting on the front axle - this has clearly been an old problem as I see that there is pitting on the front axle from the shorting. I had assumed it was rust, but it was clearly shorting on turnouts when it was run as a analogue loco.. I fixed this by placing some electrical insulation tape on the upper part of the leading edge of the front slider.

So here is the question. I measured the slider to be 5cm. Is this the same length as the one on the normal 3060 Santa Fe?

Here is the speed profile from WindigiPet. I think that the top speed of 243km/hr in reverse might be a tad too fast. What was the maximum speed of a Santa Fe?

The upgrade is not finished yet. Two new horns and a fuel tank are on their way from the USA and should get here next week.

Thanks - I will settle for 120 Km/hr..




This is awesome information.. Do you have a part number for this part?.

It's still 7185 (they keep the four digit numbers until they come with an improved version - so 71850 could become the Märklin whisper wiper number ...).
Five digit spare part numbers were extended to six digits when they introduced five digit ref. numbers for locos, coaches &c.