Adding pick up roller to mth steam engine

I don't have the part numbers. I had the pare parts from a stripped RK engine. I added an extra roller to the PRR Q2's tender while it's connected to a small Atlantic type engine. It just seemed like the right thing to do. That tender is so long and yet no roller on it?

 It's a good choice when needed to add this. Just contact Midge and she'll help you.

If this is PS3 and 2/3 rail capable you could be loosing ground.

First off, does the tender have the mounting provisions for the roller?  Many of the tenders do not have provisions for mounting the roller, in which case you have to "roll your own".

clem k posted:

If this is PS3 and 2/3 rail capable you could be loosing ground.

Not sure what you're trying to say here, if it's switched to 3-Rail, adding a 3rd roller is certainly useful!

This is what the under side of the trnder looks like

I don't happen to have the part numbers handy, but you can use the MTH bolt-on parts to do the trick for that one.

Thanks Gunrunner John , I’ll call mth on Monday 

what should I use for the plug in for the wire between the engine and tender?

should I insulate between the pick up roller base and tender or is the pick up roller insulated from its base?

Center track and wheels should be in the tether to the tender, so all you need is a PTC to protect against derailments.  I'd recommend something like this in the line from the added pickup: PTC RESET FUSE 60V 750MA RADIAL.  This prevents wire and tether damage in case of a derailment that plops the tender roller on the outside rails.

Gunrunner John, Will you install this extra pick up roller for me if I send the engine to you?

This is a pretty simple affair, it's going to cost you a bunch to ship it both ways and have me do the work.  Are you sure you wouldn't rather do this at home?

Thanks gunrunner John  I’ll try it at home, this is a PS3 engine so it doesn’t have a wire teather, the connection is in the draw bar . Do I just run a separate wire between the engine and tender?

It has wires, they're in the drawbar PCB!   There is power and ground coming over to the PS/3 board in the tender, trust me.   You don't need another wire, just tap into the center roller feed in the tender.

This is the tender board, the circled connector comes from the drawbar.  Pin 5 is the outside track, pin 6 is the center roller. 

Thanks Gunrunnerjohn,  I ordered the parts from Midge. They should be in next week.

amtrack5899 posted:

Thanks Gunrunnerjohn,  I ordered the parts from Midge. They should be in next week.

Can you keep us updated with the install?

Well, it should be just bolt the parts in place and run the wire up and splice into the red wire on pin 6 of the tether connection.

Sounds easy. They should ship the parts in 3 to 5 business days. I’ll post some pictures.

Do you use a anti- static mat?

I need to do the same with my RK cab forward.

Rob

Can you please post the MTH part number please.

BD-0000006 bottom insulator

BD-0000009 top insulator 

BD-0000048 pick up

IC-0000004 nut

IA-00000 screw

 As per Gunrunnerjohn , I would recommend that you call Midge at MTH

410-381-2580 ext 516 and explain to her what you are doing and the engine product number.  Your parts may differ.

Gunrunnerjohn also recommended a PTC reset fuse. Note his post on 5/12/18 for the link.

Thanks!

Gunrunnerjohn, my pick up roller install went fairly well for a first install.

I have 2 questions, 1st does it make a difference what direction the roller is facing.  When I installed it I placed it so the roller faced backwards however I am concerened that it may make contact with the e ring and spring assembly holding the coupler in place and cause a short. Note attachment.

Second I forgot to install the PTC reset fuse. I will do this tomorrow. Are these fuses a one time blow fuse and therefore need to be replaced upon blowing or do they reset themselves?

thanks Rich

They have them facing both ways, but I prefer the rear facing option.  I've seen several different engines, including one of mine, with the front facing rollers drop into a switch and derail the engine.  Mine actually did it several times, and it finally bent the crap out of the roller, so I had to remove it and add a tether to the tender.  This was a Legacy engine, but the brand doesn't matter.  If it really hits there, I'd personally use the shorter roller in that position, I normally use the shorted one I can find, that would be the BD-0000042.

The PTC is a self-resetting fuse, you install it and forget it, it just does it's job and then resets itself.