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Atlas GP38 sound decoder question Track and electrical/DCC
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Anonymous
Anonymous

Hi all!

Has anyone out there installed sound in an Atlas GP38 (Silver Series) recently? My dealer has closed out all his Soundtraxx LC series decoders and when I purchased a Tsunami for my E8, he made me a deal I could not refuse on his last 2nd Generation EMD LC Series decoder ($40 bucks!) I've installed the Tsunami in the E, and yes, it is sweeeeeet, but there seems to be barely any room in the Geep for sound. The decoder itself fits where the factory dual purpose decoder fits, but where to fit the speaker, and what size to use?

Any ideas?

Thanks for looking!
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IronBeltKen Super User 659 posts
IronBeltKen

I did a thread on that 2 summers ago...

...well two, actually - one for the initial install: http://www.modelrailroadforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=5971&highlight=GP38

...and another when I enlarged the speaker enclosure: http://www.modelrailroadforums.com/forum/showthread.php

I'd recommend viewing both of these threads before you start your installation.  Good luck!

IBKen
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kbkchooch
kbkchooch

Thanks Ken!

Wow! All my questions answered in 1 post! Too Cool! Now if I only clear off my workbench so I can get this lil puppy done!!

again, thanks Ken!!
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IronBeltKen Super User 659 posts
IronBeltKen

Glad to be of service Karl. 

Glad to be of service Karl.  I'll try and visit you guys at Timonium on Oct 11

IBKen
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red p New member 26 posts
red p

another 38 with sound

Not yet, but im planning on putting a loksound decoder in the Atlas GP38 that I have.

I work for Norfolk Southern, but model Penn Central
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jeffshultz MRH Staff 7,990 posts
jeffshultz

Three GP38's will get redecodered tonight...

Not, unfortunately, with sound decoders. But it's nice to see a clear photo of what's under the hood there.

 

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Jeff Shultz - MRH Technical Assistant
DCC Features Matrix/My blog index
Modeling a fictional GWI shortline combining three separate areas into one freelance-ish railroad.
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kbkchooch
kbkchooch

I done it!

     Thanks to the sage wisdom of Ken Larson, I now have sound in one of my Maryland Midland Geep 38's. (yeah!) It went pretty well, considering.  One thing different that I did was after cutting the top off of the rear weight, I used the speaker as a template and cut out the weight to let the sound go straight down and out through the truck. (I couldnt tell if you did or not from the pics Ken.) Then I built a similar enclosure and mounted the speaker and enclosure directly to the top of the weight. Put her on the track, programmed everything (with the new wireless ProCab) and let her rip!  WOW!

     I did find one problem, my rear motor flywheel was so loose on the shaft that it could be spun without turning the motor! Nothing a little careful disassembly and a drop of CA couldn't fix, but I have never seen an Atlas engine do that before!  Makes me wonder now about another one of the fleet, another Silver Series that makes a strange buzzing noise while running, usually when mu'ed to other units . I guess this means its shop time for another unit!!!

     Thanks Ken

         
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IronBeltKen Super User 659 posts
IronBeltKen

Karl, always glad to give something back to this great hobby

Karl, always glad to give something back to this great hobby whenever possible; thanx for keeping us updated!

IBKen
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