Can I convert TMCC/Odyssey Steam Engine to PS2?

You can certainly convert it, as you indicate, you'll have to address the tether, probably some metal cutting there no doubt.  Other than that, it's a pretty standard PS/2 upgrade I'd imagine.

Before you go through the effort of the swap, I’d look at the reasons you have flickering lights, etc. if you have issues with pick up rollers, or poor grounds on the engine, either crud build up, or insufficient ground pickup, these problems are not going to be resolved by just changing the control system. Usually, 0-4-0’s, 0-6-0’s & even 0-8-0’s can suffer from pickup problems ( both power & ground ) especially on switches, & crossovers. I’d diagnose and eliminate those problems before attempting the swap. Otherwise, problems you had before will just keep happening.

Pat

@harmonyards posted:

Before you go through the effort of the swap, I’d look at the reasons you have flickering lights, etc. if you have issues with pick up rollers, or poor grounds on the engine, either crud build up, or insufficient ground pickup, these problems are not going to be resolved by just changing the control system. Usually, 0-4-0’s, 0-6-0’s & even 0-8-0’s can suffer from pickup problems ( both power & ground ) especially on switches, & crossovers. I’d diagnose and eliminate those problems before attempting the swap. Otherwise, problems you had before will just keep happening.

Pat

Can this engine be tested on your layout without command control?

The weird part is that both DCS and Legacy run pretty much trouble free. But I will look at the engine and see if it can run in conventional.

I had an old Sunset Allegheny that the TMCC board set that made the motor struggle. I put in a PS2 board and it ran great. So advanced (newer) boards help these engines run better.

The trouble here is that if it's a known issue for power pickup, than the engine may need extra work either way, upgrade or not.

One issue with the Lionel small steam locomotives with the IR drawbar is the lack of pickups.  I've modified a number of them, both mine and customers, by adding a single wire tether and sharing the tender pickup rollers to aid in reliable running.

@harmonyards posted:

Before you go through the effort of the swap, I’d look at the reasons you have flickering lights, etc. if you have issues with pick up rollers, or poor grounds on the engine, either crud build up, or insufficient ground pickup, these problems are not going to be resolved by just changing the control system. Usually, 0-4-0’s, 0-6-0’s & even 0-8-0’s can suffer from pickup problems ( both power & ground ) especially on switches, & crossovers. I’d diagnose and eliminate those problems before attempting the swap. Otherwise, problems you had before will just keep happening.

Pat

100 percent on that one, I had an 0-6-0 that would stutter in complex switching. Cleaned rollers by removing and cleaning with contact cleaner than into a sonic cleaner ( I use this mostly for my clock repair business) than a total dry out and a light lube. Cleaned wheels and polished the ground straps and poof ran like a clock. A little PM now eliminates issue latter.

PennCentralShops

I also believe in tying the rollers together with a tether.   I had a Legacy 0-8-0 with an IR tether. It would stall on straight Gargraves track. Usually when cycling a forward or reverse move. No gaps in center rails so sort of ruled out the rollers but cleaned them anyways. Just a poke sideways would always fire it up. I got a good piece of small gauge flexible black wire with rings from some old lighting boards. Just used a body mount mount screw from the tender and engine and joined the 2. The engine is small enough you can handle it without disconnecting. Never stalled again as it now had 8 more wheels providing contact.

The 0-6-0 and 0-8-0 are much alike. 2 traction tires, 2 or 4 blind drivers and 2 flanged wheels. Without pilot or trailing trucks. Not a lot going on at times as far as good wheel contact. The Pennsy Legacy 0-6-0 and the last batch of 0-8-0’s went back to a 4 pin tether for just this reason.

@Engineer-Joe posted:

I had an old Sunset Allegheny that the TMCC board set that made the motor struggle. I put in a PS2 board and it ran great. So advanced (newer) boards help these engines run better.

The trouble here is that if it's a known issue for power pickup, than the engine may need extra work either way, upgrade or not.

Ugh. This stuff is so easy for you guys! I wouldn't know where to begin to swap out the TMCC board with the PS2 board. To GRJ's point I did add twin rollers to the tender a while back ago. The two rollers on the engine weren't working well enough. I also cleaned things up and got good consistent running on the loop but still the headlight flicker even though the interior cab light is nice and bright and intermittent sound. Another quirk is that the rear coupler opens at times when the engine stops. What I really want is DCS functionality. The Cab 1L remote just doesn't have enough feature control for me. And when I do switching operations I want 4 and 5 smph. It's odd that my Legacy diesels all run precisely and trouble free with excellent speed control. Am I expecting too much from TMCC?

Thanks for all the great replies.

You have a running TMCC engine. If you really want to go the route of DCS and prefer the features. I would just sell off what you have and invest in a Proto 2 or 3.  Especially if you have to pay someone to do the conversion. You didn’t mention the roadname of your present TMCC engine. MTH had multiple road names but even re lettering and  re numbering  for me anyways. Is easier than doing this conversion.

@Dave_C posted:

You have a running TMCC engine. If you really want to go the route of DCS and prefer the features. I would just sell off what you have and invest in a Proto 2 or 3.  Especially if you have to pay someone to do the conversion. You didn’t mention the roadname of your present TMCC engine. MTH had multiple road names but even re lettering and  re numbering  for me anyways. Is easier than doing this conversion.

That is kind of what I'm doing I only have the one TMCC and it's a C&O. Lightly weathered. Outwardly it's beautiful though and I have to give the edge to Lionel over MTH for the way they produced the dive linkage. The fidelity is amazing. I like projects and am not afraid to do the mod (if I can).