Converting a DE10 to DCC (HO)

[GDorsett]

Hey all.

Recently acquired a Kato DE10 (warm region) in HO scale after being told "east of the Mississippi" (pushing how far east they mean) and was wondering how DCC-able they are. It has seen a total tracktime of about four minutes on a track no longer than a metre, so it's a really new model. I have no idea what the powertrain is in this, either. Is it the small motours in the trucks and the hood just covers a circuit board and weight like the full-bodied engines (i.e. EF510)? Or does it have a more traditional can, flywheel, driveshaft, and gears? And how does one get inside of this engine?

I saw a post on here from a while ago where they were doing a DCC conversion, but the pictures did not work and I don't know if the model design has changed between then and now.

Thanks for the help!

[GDorsett]

And, that said, I have an EF510 in the mail. I do know that it probably has Kato's truck-mounted motours, but is it difficult to convert?

[kvp]

It looks like a fairly conventional design:

https://yuukikunjp.exblog.jp/8763017/

[dmustu]

Hello,

 

This might help - 

The DE10 is easy to fit a chip to, I would recommend a small direct plug in chip, as space for the chip is limited. Something like this - https://www.aliexpress.com/item/With-Built-In-8-pin-NMRA-NEM652-plug-DCC-LOCO-DECODER-WITH-4-FUNCTION-FOR-MODEL/32817050052.html?spm=2114.search0104.3.72.507f4c02s1OZJO&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_2_10152_10065_10151_10344_10068_10130_5722815_10324_10342_10547_10325_10343_10340_10341_10548_5722915_10698_10697_5722615_10696_10192_10190_10084_10083_10618_10307_10301_10303_5722715_10059_5723015_10184_10534_308_100031_10103_441_10624_10623_10622_5722515_10621_10620,searchweb201603_2,ppcSwitch_4&algo_expid=cd642c15-05a3-46dd-ac21-53ab5977f3a8-10&algo_pvid=cd642c15-05a3-46dd-ac21-53ab5977f3a8&priceBeautifyAB=0

[GDorsett]

So it does have an 8-pin in it? Very cool!

Then I shal pick up my go-to when I'm at a hobby shop later this week.

(Or salvage one from a pesky RDC.)

Now to get the hood off. Can't figure it out.

Edited April 10, 2018 by GDorsett
Fixed grammatical error

[dmustu]

The body has 4 clips, one each side at front and by the cab, the cab itself is attached to the main body, not the chassis. A gentle squeeze and pull at each end should release the body. Might be easier to start at the long bonnet end. 

Edited April 10, 2018 by dmustu

[GDorsett]

Okay, thank you!

[GDorsett]

Managed to get into it.

And, as stated, fairly traditional set-up and a strange, magical 8-pin plug!

Thanks, everyone! Will provide pictures of it on a layout soon.