Which Decoder Should I Pick?

[tompm]

Well my first decoder install went south to disaster land real fast.

For this install I choose my PRSL Bowser Executive Line AS16 DCC ready locomotive. I decided to run the locomotive to make sure there were no issues. The last time I ran this locomotive there were no problems. I place it on the track and give it juice. At first nothing happens and then as the knob approaches three quarters the light comes on and loco moves at a crawl. I go to full and it is still crawling. Then it starts stalling on switch frogs. This is a loco with all wheel pick up.

I pull the loco off thinking maybe the wheels need cleaning. I pull out my Woodland Scenics wheel cleaning device. I turn the loco over and yes the wheels could use some cleaning but they are not too bad. However, I do notice a slight odor coming from the loco and my heart sinks some. I clean the wheels and put the loco back on the track. It ran slightly better but it is still having issues with the frogs.

I pick up the loco and turn it over. The smell of lubricant is much stronger. I take a close look at the wheels and the pick ups and they are swimming in oil.

I bring the loco over to the workbench and pull out the instruction sheet. First parts off are the coupler boxes. I remove the first one and there is a puddle of oil under it. I remove the shell and find the gears and housing are soaked with oil and grease.





I disassemble one set of trucks and wheels. Of course the wires come off the contacts. Upon a closer inspection the wires are in pretty bad shape and that is probably why they came off the contacts so easily.



So now I am going to have to solder them back onto the contacts.



I went looking for my soldering iron and could not find it. However, I found another still unopened. I was given a second one a few Christmases ago. I did not find anything else. The last time I tried soldering it did not go well. Therefore I most likely be posting a soldering help thread at some point.

I need to not get ahead of myself and finish cleaning the old oil and grease from the loco, reassembling, and lightly lubricating things. Then we will move to the soldering issues.