Didn't read the fine print. I need to convert 2 rail to 3 rail.

I don't understand how a 2 rail car on 3 rail track will cause breakers to trip.  Both outside rails are at the same potential, aren't they ?

Now the reverse, a  [ conventional ] 3 rail car on 2 rail track  -- yes, that is a direct short across the rails......

SZ

Without getting new 3-rail trucks with pick-up rollers you will have to jury rig some other way to get power up from the centre rail.

Ah, OK, I see your revision:  No breakers tripping, just no lights.   So, yes, you'll need to add pickup rollers.  But you should also consider:

-  will the scale wheels go through your turnouts without derailing ?

-  will they operate on your minimum radius ?  I recall the 3 rail carbodies sit higher than the two rail ones [ based on my experience taking both types apart ].

    Revising the lighting may be the least of your problems.....

Best rgds, SZ

TRY CONTACTING MTH THEY SELL MOST OF THEIR NEW ENGINES AS 2-3RAIL WITH CONVERSION INSTRUCTIONS. IM SURE THER EIS A CONVERSION PACKAGE

STEVE

The OP stated that it is a passenger car, i.e. not an "engine".

Aren't these listed as 84" minimum radius? (o-168).  I would make sure they run around your curves and through your switches before converting anything.

Cheaper to sell them and buy what you want.

+1

Unless there are available 3-rail, direct-replacement MTH trucks for this car (it is just one car?) it might be a good idea to find the right car and sell the wrong one at your leisure.

Usually I'm all about fix-it and 'bash-it, but I have "converted" 2-rail cars to 3 using

new wheels, different couplers...sometimes it's a 1-hour fix before lunch, others have

turned into the Trials of Hercules, with little return - fixed, but it's still just a car.

Get the right one; spend the bucks; sell the other one - unless you just want to fiddle - in which case, more power to you.

(Let me tell you about this disassembled MTH Century Hudson that I got cheap and that I am about to start trying, today, to put together...) 

As a minimum, you'll have to replace the wheels sets, 2-rail wheels don't do well on 3-rail switches or curves.  Some trucks lend themselves to an easy conversion, without seeing these, it's hard to say if that would be the case here.

As far as the radius, that's with the scale wheels, part of the reason the flanges are so large on hi-rail wheels is tighter curves.

Also, assuming these truck assemblies are the same as other 'Orient"sets I've worked on, the scale wheel axles run in plastic bushing / bearing inserts, while the 3R wheels run in metal ones, if only for electrical pickup.   If you changed just the wheel sets, you'd need to keep some of the 2R wheel wipers in place -- but I have no idea how well that would work, if it would work at all.

SZ

I have been sitting back listen to all of your responses. I believe the best thing to do is to sell the set and get the 3 rail set. Buying new trucks and replaces all five cars, will be cost prohibitive. 

Thanks for bring me back to my senses.

I would be interested in buying these from you.  My email is in my profile

I have five K Line 21" GN passenger cars that are two rail that I want to convert back to 3 rail.  Since selling these cars is not an option, no replacements available, where can I find 3 rail K Line passenger trucks?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/K-Line...;hash=item4d2e03d91d

http://www.ebay.com/itm/K-Line...;hash=item4d2e03d937

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