Hi guys:

Recently I have acquired one crocodile 3015 digitalized with motorola 6080 microchip, the lok run well in digital layouts, but don´t run in AC layout. I've another digitalized machines and work well in both layouts.

Where could be the problem?

Thanks in advance.

Are you sure it is a 6080 decoder? Could it be a Delta decoder?

Some decoders require all DIP switches in the OFF position for analogue operation.

I was going to mention that, but didn't because a 6080 should detect an analog controller.

However, I stand by my previous comment - whoever converted it did a bad job!

That is the super 6080 developed for the '96(?) released 36159 Brown Croc. As stated, these can be converted with a standard decoder with a permanent magnet. I did one about a year ago. It is much cheaper now with the recently released Hamo magnet from ESU. I'm waiting for the magnet now so I can convert a 36159.

https://www.marklin-user...15-SLFCMs-available.aspx

https://www.marklin-user...15-with-ESU-decoder.aspx

When Marklin released the Insider model for 1996, it was a brown Crocodile #30159. They got so many requests to do this loko in digital that they developed a special decoder for it. It is commonly called the "super 6080" since that is basically what it is, an uprated 6080 so it can handle the load.





They also sold this decoder as a replacement part too. I found one on Ebay for a dear price, but I wanted it. Note the part number on the wrapper matches the part number on your decoder in your picture. I am not going to remove it from the bag because just as with the original 6080, it is subject to damage from static discharge and I do not want to drag out the static mats and wrist strap.



You can covert this with the standard duty ESU decoder. It is what they recommend and what I did last summer. I've pulled 30 cars with that converted 3015 shown in the thread I linked above.

No load control with the super 6080 and just one function- headlamps.

Tom and Bigdaddynz nail the reasons why I would go to the Hamo magnet and a new decoder. There are just too many ways to damage this decoder, they are not available any more and their running characteristics are inferior to a new decoder. I know the decoder in my 36159 will be going into a static bag as soon as I get the Hamo magnet I recently ordered. The difference between my converted 3015 and my 36159 is significant. The 3015 will just crawl and the 36159 stalls at low speed, dial in some more throttle to get it going and then it lunges.

ESU 54610, or if you want/need MFX, then 64610.

Unfortunately, you need to change the magnet. Trust me, it is very easy to do. Pay attention to what you are doing and lay each part out in a row as you remove it. Then you know what order to put it all back. From what I remember, remove the brushes, remove the metal piece clipped to the bottom center and remove the two screws securing the two halves of the loko together. These screws pass through an eye in the magnet so you must completely remove them. Put in the new magnet, line up the comm and insert the screws. Use aux 1 for the lower right headlamp at both ends and map it to come on with the headlamps. These lower right lamps are always on at both ends no matter what the direction of travel is. Use the standard yellow and white wires for the other two headlamps at each end. This will emulate the correct Swiss lamp functions. The magnet is ESU 51965. If you have LokProgrammer, I could e-mail you my program including the tweaks I made for the motor running characteristics.

Hello Smurfillo,

May I ask you where you ordered the magnet?

I need some, but I can not find any store with them in stock.

Thanks.

Eduardo,

When you have a close look at the photos you can see 2 wires (green + blue coming from underneath the magnet, indicating it is a coil.
although it is mfx I don't know how they've arranged the analog to digital conversion (decoder). apparently these locos do not have any acceleration or braking delay and can therefore not be classified as highefficiency motor.

also the noise level seems to be the same regardless whether the loco runs analog or digital.

John

The big Crocs in the 31859 set are interesting. As John and Tom have stated, they do use a field coil and they are MFX. I am in the process of changing my MFX lokos to DCC with ESU decoders. When I installed the ESU decoder into these lokos, they would run, but even with the low speed setting at the minimum value, they ran way to fast at speed step one. M must have some very strange values for the speed settings on the decoders in these lokos. So the MFX decoders are back in and I'm debating what to do. I do not have the patience to wait 1:40 seconds to re-acquire the MFX decoder each time they are placed on the track.

M may have the 31859 parts to convert a 3015 or similar Croc, but I would go the ESU route if you are going to change one from it's original configuration. That's my quandary with the 31859 Crocs, do I modify them or wait on these two lokos each time they are placed on the track?

Edit: I think I will try this again with all aux outputs on to see if the drive needs external power like a sinus drive does. If that works, it will be easy to determine which aux must be on. Probably will need to turn off load control as you must with sinus drive.

I agree John. There are so many of these 3015s and their variants out there not to mention those lokos which use the same motor. I can't imagine why M doesn't just make a proper permanent mag and 5 pole comm for these engines. They could make a complete kit with mag, comm and decoder. There is more than enough interest. No doubt they will trot out another variation in a few more years, probably brown again, it's been a while for that version.

the 3015 is a collectors item and the after thought of bringing out a replica with a digital decoder may has resulted in separating the 2 crocodiles.

John