Replacing a circuit board on a MM Class 071

[clehap]

Hi

 

I wonder if anyone can point me to someone who could replace the circuit board on a Class 071 loco.

I've broken one of the pins of the 21 pin decoder mount, so I think the whold board needs to be replaced.

Thanks, in advance, for any help!

Allan

 

[DJ Dangerous]

@Dempsey recently posted pics of a circuit board upgrade on one of his US locos.

Maybe he can help out here, or offer some advice.

[Dempsey]

I can't speak to if your board needs replacing completely or if the lost of a single pin would even effect your loco or the functions. 

The board upgrade @DJ Dangerousspoke about was my first experience of locomotive electronics. That being said if I can help, I'm more then happy too.

[clehap]

DJ

Looks like I received a link to your posting, with the loco modification and video, from the administrator.

I replied to him, to congratulate you on your work!

Now fully awake!

Thanks very much for your offer of help. There is a replacement sound decoder on its way and I should get it in a couple of days. That's a good point you've made, that it might be able to function even without all the pins.

That pin which I broke, was bent, almost flat, because the decoder had been badly mounted on to the unit. That was my fault! It's hard to believe that I'd been so careless, because I've a total of 13 of the Class 071s and Class 201s and I have fitted the decoders to all of them. But there you are! I've only just disovered it because the loco wasn't running well and I decided to give it some grease, etc., and take out at the decoder to test it. Turns out the decoder was fine, but once it was removed the damage was exposed!

I think the bent pin may have been making contact with the end of the conducting channel (on the base) of the decoder, so that the loco was able to run, but not well. Before I do anything drastic I've got some  26 gauge wire that fits the decoder channel. I'll see if there's a work-around where I might be able to seat a piece of the wire into place so that it makes contact. There's no access to a place to solder to, unless I get the board out and, at the moment, that's a last resort for me.

 

Cheers

Allan