Convert PS1 to dummy unit

Yep! You can do it but the trucks will still have gears but no motors. . Just remove the motors and tape leads. it's not too hard but you do have to take it apart.

Thank you Gregg

I've done this to an older Lionel TMCC UP U30C. Always ran like crap. Finally got fed up and removed the motors. I now have a full Railsounds dummy I double up with an SP U boat. The two sound great together.

Removing the motors will make a PS-1 equipped locomotive a dummy, but the sounds will not work.  It uses the motors to control the RPM levels of the sounds, so with no motors it will always sound like the locomotive is at full RPMs.

I just did lighting for a PS/1 converted to a dummy.  As stated, just take the motors out.  You have to wire up your own lights, which normally isn't that difficult.  You already have the pickups, so that's one part that's done.

I also added a switch to select front or rear lights and another to turn them all off if desired.

I thought PS-1 would rev up based on voltage without motors connected. Anyone?

It will.   G

If you're running command, you always have 18 volts, so the sound will be at max RPM.

Sorry, I dont mean to hijack the thread, BUT...

John,

Do you have any pictures of this?  Switch location and all of that?  I'll be converting a conventional runner to a dummy, but wish to keep the lighting and possibly add a switch.  If you do and wish to share, you can email so I dont take over this thread.

Thanks,
Mike

I didn't take any pictures, but I just put the two switches in the locations that were already there.  It actually takes two sizes of switches, the larger one is a DPDT switch and the smaller standard sized one is a SPDT switch.  I get the switches from conversion projects, so I don't have a place to purchase them.

The switching is pretty simple, route the power through the power switch and use the DPDT switch to route the power to the front or rear lights.  If you have markers, you can switch those as well for directional operation.

I did this to an old PS1 F3.  One thing to check is if the remaining grease in the now motorless gears is too much/too thick.  I "washed" and cleaned all the thick grease out of the remaining gears in the trucks, then lubedthem with thin oil.  Itreduced rolling friction noticeably.

Good point on the lube, the ones I did I took the trucks bare out and used brake cleaner to flush everything out of them.  After drying them, I oiled them with standard motor oil.  No need for grease, that cavity is dry.

I also remove an idler gear if you can.  Some of the newer 3-2 rail trucks it comes out with a pin.  At that point the axles are free from each other.  G