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Loco 36872 modification to DC/DCC - Loco 36872 modification to DC/DCC
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Offline EasyRailWay  
#1 Posted : 23 December 2024 13:50:35(UTC)
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EasyRailWay

Romania   
Joined: 23/12/2024(UTC)
Posts: 11
Hi all,

I got this special Halloween Glow in the Dark Steam Locomotive 36872 as a gift. I want to modify to DC/DCC. I asked Marklin support, but they didn't help me too much.
My all layouts are DCC. Also I have a Trix Orient Express set which is already DCC. But I really love this loco and I want to change it on DCC.
I have experience to modify locos from DC to full DCC with lights and sounds creating PCBs for decoder and SMD LED.

So, I'm kindly ask you, there is some compatible DC/DCC wheels for this loco? Doesn't matter the color. I will paint them in black if is necessary.

Diameter of the wheels is 12mm.

For the power contacts I will find a solution to modify the loco to pick the power from wheels and to remove the AC pick-up.

Also searching through the Marklin steam locos I found a similar one: Märklin Start up - KLVM Tank Locomotive Model train 36873
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Offline mvd71  
#2 Posted : 23 December 2024 19:00:47(UTC)
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mvd71

New Zealand   
Joined: 09/08/2008(UTC)
Posts: 1,919
Location: Auckland,
You could try searching the Trix database for the same type of loco, then you could find part numbers for spares. But I don’t know if Märklin offered this loco in the Trix range.
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Offline mario54i  
#3 Posted : 23 December 2024 21:33:50(UTC)
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mario54i

Italy   
Joined: 28/03/2007(UTC)
Posts: 303
Location: Torino,
Originally Posted by: mvd71 Go to Quoted Post
You could try searching the Trix database for the same type of loco, then you could find part numbers for spares. But I don’t know if Märklin offered this loco in the Trix range.


I don't see anything similar in the Trix range. It's a start-up model, 90 euros price.
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Offline EasyRailWay  
#4 Posted : 23 December 2024 21:40:37(UTC)
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EasyRailWay

Romania   
Joined: 23/12/2024(UTC)
Posts: 11
Originally Posted by: mvd71 Go to Quoted Post
You could try searching the Trix database for the same type of loco, then you could find part numbers for spares. But I don’t know if Märklin offered this loco in the Trix range.


Yes, I already searched for the similar locos on Trix and I couldn't find any of them.
I will buy a Marklin wheels set for this one and I will go to hard way to try to cut them on the middle and 3D print 3 cilinders to fit the 2 pieces of axels.
Or maybe I can find some isolated axels and replace them., like from Roco.
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Online kiwiAlan  
#5 Posted : 24 December 2024 00:36:54(UTC)
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kiwiAlan

United Kingdom   
Joined: 23/07/2014(UTC)
Posts: 8,472
Location: ENGLAND, Didcot
Changing the loco to DCC will be as simple as replacing the decoder. The decoder in it will be one of the bottom end MM/mfx decoders that marklin uses in Start Up models that doesn't have DCC. So replcing the decoder with your favourite DCC one should be a breeze.

Your bigger problem is sorting out to run on 2 rail track, if that is what you are wanting to do.
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Offline EasyRailWay  
#6 Posted : 24 December 2024 01:32:16(UTC)
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EasyRailWay

Romania   
Joined: 23/12/2024(UTC)
Posts: 11
Originally Posted by: kiwiAlan Go to Quoted Post
Changing the loco to DCC will be as simple as replacing the decoder. The decoder in it will be one of the bottom end MM/mfx decoders that marklin uses in Start Up models that doesn't have DCC. So replcing the decoder with your favourite DCC one should be a breeze.

Your bigger problem is sorting out to run on 2 rail track, if that is what you are wanting to do.



Thanks. I didn't know that MFX decoder is so bad. Lucky I still have one ESU v4 or v5 available.

Now I'm looking for a solution to isolate the wheels and add pickup contacts.

As soon as I'm doing the charge I will post some picres and some descriptions.
This is the first try to change something like this to change the physical parts. For electronic side is not an issue for me.
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Online kiwiAlan  
#7 Posted : 24 December 2024 14:18:59(UTC)
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kiwiAlan

United Kingdom   
Joined: 23/07/2014(UTC)
Posts: 8,472
Location: ENGLAND, Didcot
Originally Posted by: EasyRailWay Go to Quoted Post
Originally Posted by: kiwiAlan Go to Quoted Post
Changing the loco to DCC will be as simple as replacing the decoder. The decoder in it will be one of the bottom end MM/mfx decoders that marklin uses in Start Up models that doesn't have DCC. So replcing the decoder with your favourite DCC one should be a breeze.

Your bigger problem is sorting out to run on 2 rail track, if that is what you are wanting to do.



Thanks. I didn't know that MFX decoder is so bad. Lucky I still have one ESU v4 or v5 available.

Now I'm looking for a solution to isolate the wheels and add pickup contacts.

As soon as I'm doing the charge I will post some picres and some descriptions.
This is the first try to change something like this to change the physical parts. For electronic side is not an issue for me.


Work your way through the Trix catalogue, or possibly back catalogues, to see if there is a loco with similar size wheels that you can get as spare parts. You should also be able to get the fingers that replace the pickup shoe as well from the same loco, which should bolt on to give the contact for the other rail pickup.
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Offline EasyRailWay  
#8 Posted : 13 January 2025 02:51:33(UTC)
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EasyRailWay

Romania   
Joined: 23/12/2024(UTC)
Posts: 11
Hi all,

Today was my first attempt to insulate the wheels from this Märklin Loco 36872 Startup Set. I was able to 3D print with PLA some insulators and I was able to fix the wheel into a 2.00 mm axle.

1. First step was to pull out the old axle using this tool:
IMG_20250113_023407.jpg

2. I've made a bushing in Freecad with inner diameter of 1.95 mm and the outer diameter of 2.55 mm.
2016_0311_100646_001.JPG
IMG_20250113_023402.jpg

3. The new axles are from Piko 2.00mm x 25mm which I will adjust to 20.50 mm as the original Märklin axle, when I will get the tool.
IMG_20250113_023621.jpg

4. Using this tool I was able to pushback the axle inside the bushing:
IMG_20250113_023415.jpg

And yes you can 3D print such small parts with one condition: 0.1mm nozzle! This test bushing I've 3D printed on 0.2mm nozzle and tomorrow I will test my 0.1mm nozzle. Also I will swap the printing position horizontal instead vertical because on 0.1mm nozzle the Z layers are 0.05mm which fits perfect the tolerance.

I will keep you update.

After insulating all wheels I will have the next challenge to build supports for wheels wipers / current collectors.
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Offline EasyRailWay  
#9 Posted : 31 January 2025 16:50:15(UTC)
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EasyRailWay

Romania   
Joined: 23/12/2024(UTC)
Posts: 11
Hi everybody,

For those which are interested in this project, I just did the first stage of conversion. I was able to change the axles from the original set of wheels with a plastic ones made from PEEK 2.5mm rod.
After I researched a little bit which plastic can be used to replace the metal axles, PEEK was the best one. Is very strong and I had to use pretty high force with wheel assembly tool to insert the wheels into the axles.

Second stage is to install the pickup contacts. Seems the decoder on the loco knows also DCC. In the manual is mentioned Address set at factory: MM 78 (see page 4) / DCC 03.
I will connect on my ESU programmer to check it.

Here are some pictures with the modifications of the wheels:
IMG_20250131_154318.jpg

IMG_20250131_161806.jpg

IMG_20250131_155518.jpg

IMG_20250131_155338.jpg

Edited by user 03 February 2025 16:00:38(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified
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thanks 1 user liked this useful post by EasyRailWay
Offline EasyRailWay  
#10 Posted : 31 January 2025 17:40:37(UTC)
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EasyRailWay

Romania   
Joined: 23/12/2024(UTC)
Posts: 11
Regarding the decoder is also working on DCC. I've tested with my ESU Programmer and I was able to run the loco. Unfortunately I can't read the configuration from it. As info for the decoder, ESU Programmer shows Manufacturer Trix Modelleisenbahn, CV7: 18 and CV8: 131.
But anyway I will replace it with an ESU LokSound 5 decoder to install also some sounds on it.
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