LGB Automatic Hoppers 41610

supagav

USA standard gauge in the late 1960's, in 1:29th.
Hi folks,

I was just wondering if anyone can help me? I was asked by a good friend to help chip, detail and weather his new rake of LGB 41610 automatic tilting hoppers. Before I take them apart and have a look I just wanted to ask around here if anyone had any experiences with these cars? Any tips or ideas for digital? I find my myself mostly gutting USA Trains and Aristo stock these days and these particular cars are new to me, so any thoughts would be gratefully received!

He also has a stack of LGB 55021 chips spare so I was thinking to use these in the cars. Does anyone know where I could find a manual for them?

Many thanks in advance for your help!
 
Please ignore that second part, I found a pdf online.

Thanks
 
I have installed a Massoth M-decoder in my 41610 hopper, the decoder was small enough to fit inside.

You have to change the power pick-up on one of the boogies, as the original set-up is power pick-up on one side only for both boggies (has to do with the special track it is designed to be used with).

The driving decoder was installed between the boggies and the motor-print, the print in there is connected to the two limit swichtes, I don't remember the details but I figured out how to connect to it at the time. You should program the decoder for digital control only as running it on analog with analog operation activated will cause the side wall to move unintentionally. I did also program the maximum voltage to 6V if I remember correctly, which gives a slower movement and also I did not know if the motor could handle full voltage.

If you have the special track you can remove the electric parts and use it as a standard track.

You can also use a function decoder with a relay, but then you have to stick to only one voltage for operation.
 
Thanks for info!

I took one apart and I discovered the same thing that I need to reverse one of the track pick ups as they were both on the same side. That's all ok.

I've connected it up on the bench with a small supply and can get it moving so I think I know what to do now!

Thanks again for the help
 
Hi.
Just to let you know the correct decoder is the Massoth single channel function & switch decoder 8156501 it can be set to a switch or to a loco address and has a CV for the unloading wagons. I have used them and it is easy.
 
Thanks for the information Railway42. Looking at the CV information for the single channel switch decoder with the 'hopper set-up' the voltage is half the track voltage, which for most of us would be about 10-12V.

I would like to point out a few differences between using a switch decoder and a driving decoder:
- the swich decoder is cheaper than the driving decoder and has a simple operational set-up
- with the driving decoder the speed of movement is depending on the speed step you choose when turning the speed wheel, and you can also stop at intermediate positions between closed and fully open position if you wish so
 
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