Converting an MTH Three-Rail ALCO S-2. Any How-To Guides Out There?

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ECI

I have wondered about 2 railing mth switchers  myself. The motors should be DC, if you want to use them. I don't know if you can get 2 rail wheels for them.

It all depends on the specific model, some have swappable wheelsets, others you have to replace the whole truck.  Not sure what the S-2 has.

Northwest Short Line sold replacement 2-rail wheels for MTH "captive block" trucks. However, you'll need a strong wheel puller to remove the original wheels, plus you'll need to fabricate a current collection scenario (wipers) for the wheels.

This 2 railer has no knowledge of 3 rail trains, so if someone who is familiar could show us if jt is possible, that would be great. I think the biggest problem is converting the wheelsets.

the biggest problem by far is pulling the 3 rail wheels off.   They are a very very tight press fit.    I was not able to do a set here.   I have friend iwth a Bridgeport, and it took him a week to figure it out.   The major issue is there is no place to grip the wheel solidliy and hold the truck so you can pound or press it loose. 

I am referring to the solid block trucks.     If you have one with a removable bottom plate, just sscrounge up some new wheelsets.   MTH  used to sell them but right now is not selling parts.    Might find a shop that has them, or NWSL may have something.  

For pickups, just use some phospher bronze strips      The trucks shold have holes already drilled.   you can mount a pickup in a fabricated plastic angle that just screws to the truck side in those holes.   all the ones  Ihave seen are already drilled.  

The motors are definitely DC.

Actually, no sweat pulling the wheels, I've done that a number of times.  I use the Timko wheel puller, and it zips them right off.

Now, really making them into 2-rail trucks is a bit trickier.  You have to have insulated wheels for one side, and fabricate wheel wipers to provide the power pickup.  That's presuming you find the scale wheels in the first place.

I was unable to pull the wheels on two different MTH truck from two different units.    All I accomplished was break chunks out of the flanges!    I did manage to bend my NWSL wheel puller but not move the wheel.  

I'm glad to hear the Timko wheel puller worked for you.   I notice from a search that it is no longer available.   However, looking at it, it does not look any sturdier than the NWSL unit I tried.  

There is an article by John Sethian in OST (I believe it is issue #59) where he discusses how to convert a MTH captured axle from a MTH Aerotrain to 2 rail. IIRC he actually used the newer MTH wheels sets that are designed for the later convertible trucks but he modified the captured axle truck block and the wheel sets so that they would work together. I have always wanted to try this but never had the time.

@prrjim posted:

I was unable to pull the wheels on two different MTH truck from two different units.    All I accomplished was break chunks out of the flanges!    I did manage to bend my NWSL wheel puller but not move the wheel. 

I'm glad to hear the Timko wheel puller worked for you.   I notice from a search that it is no longer available.   However, looking at it, it does not look any sturdier than the NWSL unit I tried. 

The trick is not to put all the pressure on the flanges, but rather inside on the "meat" of the wheel.  Cut a slot in a large washer and use slip that under the wheel to spread the force.  I've pulled a number of wheels, never chewed up the flanges.

I use a version of that - strong steel bars under the "meat" of the wheel, or just use the truck block and force the axle through wheel and truck block.  It takes real force - i use a large drill press, but an arbor press would be better.

I have experience doing this sort of thing for a very wealthy customer (RIP).  We wound up placing MTH or Lionel car bodies on 2-rail mechanisms.  I got to keep the 2-rail bodies.

In one case, Joe Foehrkolb had done a really nice job of converting Lionel PA trucks, but the customer wanted smoother/slower mechanisms.  Someplace out there is a pair of Lionel MoPac PAs with Overland trucks and mechanisms.  Of course here I have an Overland PA body with Lionel trucks.

Also out there somewhere is an MTH switcher body riding on an All Nation NW2 mechanism.  That is a bit more cost-effective.  I think I would recommend an Atlas horizontal drive SW.  Adapt your sideframes, mate the mechanism, and eBay the leftover body.

We did maybe five NWSL conversions on MTH SD9s and K-Line Train Masters.  Takes time, which means if you are not doing it yourself it will cost mucho $.  But SD9 and Train Master mechanisms simply don't exist (maybe CLW has the truck) so you are stuck with the conversion.

@bob2 posted:

I use a version of that - strong steel bars under the "meat" of the wheel, or just use the truck block and force the axle through wheel and truck block.  It takes real force - i use a large drill press, but an arbor press would be better.

I have the press, so that's a reasonable method as well.  I use the press to put the wheels back on.  It's good that it takes quite a bit of force, that means they're not likely to get loose and be a major PITA!