Add power pickup rollers to MTH E8B

I kind of looked into this on the Lionel side of things and found it pretty pricy to add roller equipped trucks or build them with parts. I decided not to buy unpowered engines or maybe buy an appropriate used engine at a similar cost of powering the dummy.

Let's see a picture of the bottom of the trucks.  I don't know that exact unit, but most of the time the standard MTH components will bolt right in.

The exact MTH number for the piece would be useful as well.

I've also grafted pickup rollers on many tenders and even a couple of locomotives when I needed them for better conductivity, a little bit of Styrene or fiberglass sheet, the roller, and some CA adhesive and normally the job is done.

Here's what I found online...

I was lucky that they actually have the parts list on the MTH website. 

Need to see the bottom of the unpowered truck.

This is what I've done...

I have these nice plastic assemblies with pickup rollers in my parts bin, so I'm going to use those. I notched the bottom of the plastic to fit inside the square between the wheel sets and I'm going to drill a 1/4" hole for a plastic sleeve. The screw comes down from the top and has a plastic washer. 

thanks!

-Mario

Mario, what is your plans for producing the sound? I would also like to add sound in my A-B-B-A sets. I dislike when shooting a video close to the tracks, that only the lead A has sound when passing the camera and not the trailing units. I have already stolen the sound off the speaker in the lead A and tethered between the units with each having a mini amplified speaker, but I'd like to do away with the tether and having to remember to shut the speakers off.

I can't give away all my secrets just yet, but I can give you a hint. It has to do with this video:

Thanks Mario. That looks similar to what I have done, hi-jacking from the lead speaker. I thought maybe you were installing something that held independent sound files. 

Dave Zucal posted:

Thanks Mario. That looks similar to what I have done, hi-jacking from the lead speaker. I thought maybe you were installing something that held independent sound files. 

It will be an independent sound install. Wait till you see it...

Once I detail out a Williams NYC E7B and put it on the dummy MTH Premier E8B frame, I'm adding pick ups to the trucks, and adding two Trainsounds systems from GP38s (non-turbo 567s) and magnet wheel sets and Hall sensors from them as well, and twin Tang Band speakers and twin laptop speakers.

I'll have to swap the wheel with the magnet over to the dummy trucks, so I'm replacing the blind wheels with them. The magnet wheel drives the sensor which in turn sets the engine RPMS.  It will be stand alone.

Heres the sound system from the unit; power is red and black, orange are the speaker leads and the black/yellow is the sounds on/off switch.  The other small PCB is the Hall effect sensor that needs to be mounted facing he magnet wheel, also show in this picture.

What's  in the video is the sound from the GP38 and a Tang Band speaker.  The 9V only powers the motor, and hence turns the wheel with the magnet. This simulates the wheels being turned by the moving E7B, and then it raises the engine RPM. 

Two sound systems from Trainsounds GP38s means twin 567s. 

Dave Zucal posted:

Thanks Mario. That looks similar to what I have done, hi-jacking from the lead speaker. I thought maybe you were installing something that held independent sound files. 

The two speakers in the video are 4 Ohms apiece, wired in series. This gives me the 8 Ohms needed for the Lionel sound system. 

Wink!

thanks,

-Mario

That will be one sweet set up and a fun project. Keep us up to date.

CentralFan1976 posted:

This is what I've done...

You did this the hard way, there are bolt-in parts available to add the roller to those trucks.

Ok... proof of concept. It works!

I used the first speaker I could find and there's much to be refined but...

gunrunnerjohn posted:

CentralFan1976 posted:

This is what I've done...

You did this the hard way, there are bolt-in parts available to add the roller to those trucks.

If Mario did it the easy way it wouldn't be any fun!

And how fun it is... when it goes right (mostly). 

Here's some details on the mods, including the copper I used as a spring for the third axle. 

thanks!

-Mario

Those axles should be grounded through the trucks, not sure what the spring is for.

gunrunnerjohn posted:

Those axles should be grounded through the trucks, not sure what the spring is for.

The copper spring is there because this was the blind axle before, and it was floating. The axle is in a slot, not a hole, so it was free to move up and down. Not good when you're trying to, first keep the wheels between the rails, and second, keep them in contact with the rail so they turn and the sensor will register rotation and up the engine revs. 

The outer two axles are rigidly mounted for rotation only.  

I did something similar on the MTH PA-1. 

Without pressure, the wheel set just rides up and over the railhead. 

Thanks!

Mario

OK, that makes sense. 

This video shows how to eliminate the blind axle from floating when your changing to flanged wheels on diesel trucks.                                                                                                 https://www.youtube.com/watch?...B5cvX45g&index=5

Ahh. Good ole Tommy Zemanek to the rescue!

what a great, great, great man. And a good friend. I need to call him, thanks!

If you do talk to him, ask him where one can purchase MTH size diesel flanged wheels. Thanks

2nd truck is ready...

all we need to do now, is reassemble. In theory!

Reality is a little different, in afraid. 

I think you need to grab some cold bluing and do the silver wheels.

gunrunnerjohn posted:

I think you need to grab some cold bluing and do the silver wheels.

You are correct, my good man!

Theu got the Mario Wheel Treatment this morning!

...of course, I didn't grab a picture, but you get the idea:

That should do it. 

Looks like you've sorted this out already, but that square hole in the truck block is for a standard issue MTH locomotive pickup roller. The square insulator goes in there with the roller on the bottom. The wire connects on the top side of the truck.

Boilermaker1 posted:

Looks like you've sorted this out already, but that square hole in the truck block is for a standard issue MTH locomotive pickup roller. The square insulator goes in there with the roller on the bottom. The wire connects on the top side of the truck.

I pointed that out to him earlier.   https://ogrforum.com/...17#73368898571377917

I guess its just not my day...

I have a lot of days that "aren't my day".