392e PS1 to PS2 Upgrade

Did the PS-1 have preexisting frame holes and bearing for the flywheel mount?  Or did you scratch build all that?

The board sits behind the smoke unit, I think the speaker is under the cab.

Go search a few instruction sheets for the PS-2 engine.   G

Great suggestion, thanks!  I found there were at least two different manuals for the PS2 392e.  One appeared to have pictures of a 5 volt PS2 system, while the other pictured only 3 volt boards.  I am using a 3 volt PS2 system and will mount the board behind the smoke unit and the speaker just behind the motor.  I think it will be much easier to mount the battery on top of the speaker instead of beside the circuit boards.  Midge at MTH was able to find me a flywheel/shaft/gear assembly with bearings, but I was prepared to make one if necessary.  The tachometer shaft gear has 12 teeth and I think it is the same as one of the original super motor armature gears.  The motor frame did not have the holes for the flywheel shaft, I had to drill them.  I made a mount for the tachometer sensor.  I will post pictures soon.

Interesting, I have had a few customers request PS-1 to PS-2 upgrades, but they were pitman without flywheel.  I did pickup a Standard gauge motor for PS-2.  But as you stated MTH doesn't sell the flywheel assembly as a repair part.  G

A few pictures - the PS1 392e and the donor.  Next is the motor and flywheel assembly from my PS2 384e, the 384 and 392 motors side by side without wheels and marking the 392 motor to drill holes for the flywheel shaft.

More pictures: The slot cut in the frame is similar to that in the PS2 384.  Some standard gauge engines have the flywheel at the back, some at the front.

Picture of the initial test! No lights and the wires are a mess, but everything works perfectly! I loaded a 392e file from 2011 (more recent than most 392 files I saw) and the speed is just right.  Now I have to get the wires neatly bundled and protected from rubs, sharp edges and pinch points.  Next will be mounting the smoke and volume potentiometers, then LED lights in front and flickering LEDs for the firebox glow.

Pictures of the finished upgrade - runs perfectly and no more tether!

Mr Fixit,

Great job congrats!

PCRR/Dave

Wow Mr Fixit!

Very impressive job and looks great! How did you determine to use these locos. Were they engines you just were not using any longer or were they purchased for this change out? Do you hire out?

JoeG

Thanks for the positive comments!  I had been running the 392e for a couple of years and wanted to convert it to PS2.  The donor engine was purchased for the purpose of upgrading the 392e.  I took my 384e apart just to see how the tachometer was installed, it was then re-assembled.  I don't work on trains for hire, there are much better qualified people here on the OGR forum.