How To Open The Handheld Remote?

There's a screw inside the battery door, then start prying the seam in the casing apart, carefully, with a small screwdriver, or automotive panel popper. A series of clips will release. Do it slow so that you dont send parts flying.

I'm not sure trying to open the remote is worth the risk and may not be your problem. It's not that easy,( at least for me) If you pull the transceiver board you're in trouble. cost me a remote.

Bob,

First of all, do not use a screwdriver to open the remote. You may get it open, however, there's a good chance that you'll chew up the case in the process.

From page 168 of The DCS O Gauge Companion 2nd Edition:

Opening the DCS Remote can be extremely difficult and can cause problems with the DCS Remote! You should consider having this done by an authorized MTH service center! 

• Open the battery compartment door on the back of the DCS Remote and remove the batteries 

• Remove the Philips head screw inside the battery compartment 

• Before opening the DCS Remote's case, note that when the DCS Remote is opened, there will still be a black wire connecting the two halves of its case 

• Begin to separate the two halves of the DCS Remote's case by pushing outwards from inside the battery compartment while squeezing the bottom portion of the top of the DCS Remote. This requires considerable patience, particularly when opening a DCS remote's case for the first time 

• Once the bottom of the shell begins to separate, gently continue to separate the two halves of the case and open the DCS Remote like a book, taking care not to damage the wire connecting the two halves of the case 

• The transceiver board is located at the top of the DCS Remote behind the LCD screen. Do not under any circumstances lift up on the transceiver board or black wire! 

• Press down gently on the transceiver board to reseat it 

• Place a piece of soft, nonconductive spongy material on top of the transceiver board so that it will hold the board in place when the DCS Remote is reassembled 

• Carefully line up the two halves of the case and gently but firmly snap them back together 

• Replace the Philips head screw, the batteries and the battery compartment door.

Thanks! 

Thanks guys!

I've taken similar boxes apart and it was hit or miss when it came to breaking/not breaking tabs.

I think I'll just clean the wheel from the outside for now and see if that helps.  It doesn't look worn or dirty, but a little cleaning may do the trick.

You try it tethered, any difference?

Look up my "DCS Remote Thumbwheel Lube" thread started on Nov 25.

There use to be a tech at MTH that opened with one hand by squeezing it from the middle/sides.  If your going to open with a flat wedge, start at the tether location at the end of the remote.   G

I opened both of mine by using a single edge razor blade, starting by the battery compartment,

G,

There use to be a tech at MTH that opened with one hand by squeezing it from the middle/sides

As I said above...

"Begin to separate the two halves of the DCS Remote's case by pushing outwards from inside the battery compartment while squeezing the bottom portion of the top of the DCS Remote. This requires considerable patience, particularly when opening a DCS remote's case for the first time "

Bob M, I recall your post (I should have searched under thumbwheel instead of handheld).

I'm sure it's nothing but crud that's the problem, Gregg I have not tried the tether yet.

Back in the 70s when I worked for the Navy I worked on their NTDS (Naval Tactical Data Systems) UYA-4 consoles that had a good sized trackball in them.  These balls would get filthy from constant use (at the time they let sailors smoke/drink coffee or soft drinks in CIC), always hated opening them up.

I was thinking of trying to clean it from the outside without opening it up, but then recalled this:

Back 1999-2000 I went to Bahrain to lead an assessment team on their frigate RBNS Sabha (formerly USS Jack Williams, FFG -24).  All the grunt work on the ship was performed by non-Bahranis and when they were told to "go clean the equipment" they cleaned it like their lives depended on it (probably did too).  As a result, some of the cleaning fluid seeped down into the electronics, causing erratic behavior in the consoles.  The tech I had with me had to strip the consoles down and remove all the sticky gunk that had formed inside.

So make sure you don't use too much fluid when cleaning things.

I think I'll start with something mild on the outside and see if this makes it better, then open it up if I have to.

Bob D:  Before opening, do be aware there is a siftware bug that sometimes causes the thumbwheel to work in reverse--voltage drops & jumps around when you try to raise it, and vice versa.

The bug was responsible for my then 5-year old grandson quickly learning to use the red button when he couldn't slow down a train.

Ouch, didn't  know that!

I haven't noticed it jumping when I try lowering the speed, but will keep an eye on it now.

Robert & Bob,

 Before opening, do be aware there is a siftware bug that sometimes causes the thumbwheel to work in reverse--voltage drops & jumps around when you try to raise it, and vice versa.

Note that this bug is only active when operating in Super TIU mode, and has been corrected in the current DCS beta release.

Thanks Barry, I've never used SUPER TIU mode so I should have no issues.

The Radio Shack Tuner Cleaner will not harm anything.