Modifying early LGB 2056 Alco diesel 3 pin motor blocks ready for digital upgrade

Brixham

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27 Aug 2010
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This is an early 2056, that has a ‘repaired in 1999’ label. So perhaps early 90’s

I used some yellow multi strand wire a very similar gauge to the already installed brown, green and white wires.
Drill a hole adjacent to the WS marked terminal from inside the motor block to outside.

Bend the motor contact through 90 degrees, and cut off any that protrudes.

6C11405D-D406-41FE-A19A-35F0040F2508.jpeg

Solder the yellow wire onto the terminal such that it is vertical.

0FFA37C9-2AAA-4188-AE44-70913F7F52C1.jpeg

7A91D323-9721-429A-8470-DBD361D815E4.jpeg

Lower the top housing onto the 3 existing pins and feed the yellow wire through the new hole. Add some heat shrink just to be sure.
0B087C98-7DFE-4506-A499-FBEBAB573D25.jpeg

Check that there is NO electrical connection from the new yellow wire to the WS white pin.
Temporarily connect the new yellow cables to the white terminals, and check the loco runs under analogue, but now with 4 pin motor blocks

20605C73-779F-4DB5-AD64-93570073B4F3.jpeg
4680840B-C4D0-4686-B189-9B79C715B36E.jpeg


The black/red/ white cable is for the rear light cluster, red is common, black is reverse headlights, and white is marker boards.
The 4 way cable, green appears to be common, White is forward lights, brown is marker boards, and yellow is the rooftop flashing led. CAUTION.....ALL 5 volts, so cv’s need changing.

The two terminals sw and rt are for the track power bus sockets at the rear of the loco

I’ve not fitted a decoder yet, as I found an old lgb digital sound board, which works. I have a couple of analogue lines to visit, so will fit a speaker, reassemble, and run it for a while. Of course, I have to link the newly fitted yellow wire back to the white terminals on the sound board to revert to 3 pin mode
 

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LGB333

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15 Feb 2015
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McLean Virginia
www.olddominionrailways.com
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This is an early 2056, that has a ‘repaired in 1999’ label. So perhaps early 90’s

I used some yellow multi strand wire a very similar gauge to the already installed brown, green and white wires.
Drill a hole adjacent to the WS marked terminal from inside the motor block to outside.

Bend the motor contact through 90 degrees, and cut off any that protrudes.

View attachment 316722

Solder the yellow wire onto the terminal such that it is vertical.

View attachment 316729

View attachment 316730

Lower the top housing onto the 3 existing pins and feed the yellow wire through the new hole. Add some heat shrink just to be sure.
View attachment 316724

Check that there is NO electrical connection from the new yellow wire to the WS white pin.
Temporarily connect the new yellow cables to the white terminals, and check the loco runs under analogue, but now with 4 pin motor blocks

View attachment 316725
View attachment 316746
View attachment 316723

The black/red/ white cable is for the rear light cluster, red is common, black is reverse headlights, and white is marker boards.
The 4 way cable, green appears to be common, White is forward lights, brown is marker boards, and yellow is the rooftop flashing led. CAUTION.....ALL 5 volts, so cv’s need changing.

The two terminals sw and rt are for the track power bus sockets at the rear of the loco

I’ve not fitted a decoder yet, as I found an old lgb digital sound board, which works. I have a couple of analogue lines to visit, so will fit a speaker, reassemble, and run it for a while. Of course, I have to link the newly fitted yellow wire back to the white terminals on the sound board to revert to 3 pin mode
I suggest you not bend the motor's cooper terminal when soldering the yellow wire. I cut off slightly more than 1/8th inch and then solder the yellow wire on the inside of the motor terminal. This motor terminal needs to fit into the V groove in the bottom of the motor block. Bending it can cause it to not fit into the groove properly and possibly prevent the cover from seating properly..........the gears might then mesh properly causing inordinate wear or damage.
 

Brixham

No buffers were hurt at this sign
27 Aug 2010
1,495
120
Best answers
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Country flag
I did look at clearance for the bent motor terminal...before doing the deed...
On both motor blocks there was plenty of room....I was quite surprised.

Perhaps in more recent locos the clearances are much tighter so worth checking, and adopting your method.

malcolm