Fleischmann HO 4175 BR 50 Installation of a MC2 Decoder

This is a Tender driven locomotive with power pickups on 10 wheels of the locomotive.Turn the Loco upside down to locate the screws holding the body to the chassis

Remove the 2 screws and the 2 threaded front buffers holding the body to the chassis. If the buffers are not removed you will break the front light assembly.

Lift of the Tender body by easing the 4 clips where the body meets the chassis

Remove the two screws holding the weights, take out the green diode and lift the weights off.

Unscrew the bulb (or Lamp)Replace the lamp with an LED . Feed the wires through the small hole in the Lampholder

Remove the original Backplate And replace with the Insulated version from Fleischmann

Part No. 50 4750

Insulated Backplate in place

Remove the screws holding the two sides of the drive gear and the Tender draw bar , now remove the power pickups and brake detail. The Blue and White wire will be passed through the chassis under this assembly. Cut away a small groove to allow the wires freedom to move.

Replace the Front and Rear lamps with LEDs powered via a 1k Ohm resistor from the Blue wireThe Front buffer Beam Headlights also were given new Warm White SMDs each powered through a 1k Ohm resistor (visible under the front light assembly)

Motor Wired LED in Place

Feed the Red, Black Blue and white wire along the path of the original wires. Remove the original wiring from the power pickups and replace with the Red and Black wire from the decoder. Replace the power pickup assembly in the chassis taking care that the Blue and White wire are free to move back and forth. Join the Blue wire from the front lights to the blue wire from the decoder, cover with heat shrink. Do the same with the white wire.

Hold the decoder in place with double sided tape.

Test for shorts and try the Loco chassis on the programming track. If all is OK put the body back on.

Close up view of the SMD replacement lights – wired with 30 gauge decoder wire and some motor wind wire (from a point motor).