LEGACY Conversion MTH GS4 #4449 American Freedom Train

Here is some progress on my MTH AFT GS4 Legacy Conversion. I got the motor encoder installed onto the motor. I had to slightly enlarge the mounting holes on the PCB for the sensor to align properly with the flywheel ring. I used my dremel to lengthen the slat spot on the motor output shaft to allow the set screw on the flywheel to seat better. I also ground down the tops of the motor mount screws to allow the encoder ring to not the hit the screws as it spun. Got working on the tender as well. Drilled holes and mounted the RS Lite and the LTC1 board. The speaker and switches were already installed previously. Looking good and hoping to get more done soon.     

I put electrical tape behind the PCB to prevent it from shorting out on the motor

Another update on my MTH GS4 conversion. Got the tender completed. Looks good. Now the engine needs to be finished. I have the smoke unit complete and all the fabrication done. All that is left for it is the wiring.

Sid, you're the next gunrunnerjohn guru.  Keep up the good work.

Stu

@NOT LionelLLC posted:

Sid, you're the next gunrunnerjohn guru.  Keep up the good work.

Stu

Haha thank you. I am looking forward to seeing this thing stretch its legs.

Lot of progress has been made. I am about 95% complete. The tender was done, but loco needed wiring and more modifications. Turns out a brush was grounding so I put a different Pittman on to be safe. I also had to machine down the flywheel to fit between some shell studs. All the wiring is complete, though I still need to hook the mars light up to a mars light simulator and insulate the pilot as the antenna. Though for now I am extremely happy with how this had turned out.

Nice job Sid! Way outta my league.

@RickO posted:

Nice job Sid! Way outta my league.

Thanks

I wish I had the skill and comprehension to understand even one-half of your project.

Having said that, keep up the good work; In if it's beyond my 70 year old  pre-Legacy brain.

Tremendous work.

Great job Sid, that not exactly an easy swap!....tremendous skills!...

Pat

@harmonyards posted:

Great job Sid, that not exactly an easy swap!....tremendous skills!...

Pat

Thanks Pat. It sure wasn't the easiest thing in the world, but I got it done. After doing it I got a Pittman for you to work on 😉.

I’ve only just discovered this thread. Great work!

And way above my pay grade and probably ambition, too, as witness that I thought a “Legacy” conversion must be a misprint for ERR TMCC. But the boards and controls I can make out in your photos appear to me to be Legacy, not TMCC.

That’s intriguing although I might be out of date or under-informed about getting Legacy components. I thought, however, that they were coded for specific engines.

Anyway congrats on a fine project.

@Hancock52 posted:

I’ve only just discovered this thread. Great work!

And way above my pay grade and probably ambition, too, as witness that I thought a “Legacy” conversion must be a misprint for ERR TMCC. But the boards and controls I can make out in your photos appear to me to be Legacy, not TMCC.

That’s intriguing although I might be out of date or under-informed about getting Legacy components. I thought, however, that they were coded for specific engines.

Anyway congrats on a fine project.

Thanks. These are legacy electronics and while they were programed for other locomotives, they can be retrofitted to work with different locomotives as long as the specifications are the same.

sid how do you now what rcmc will work with brand x model?  do not other manufacturers gearing and gear ratios  play a big roll especially in the slowest speed ranges. can that be a big issue? just asking.

@Lionelzwl2012 posted:

sid how do you now what rcmc will work with brand x model?  do not other manufacturers gearing and gear ratios  play a big roll especially in the slowest speed ranges. can that be a big issue? just asking.

The only part that matters is the gear ratio and I know the gear ratio of certain models. I just match the rcmc gear ratio to the Engine I'm working on.

@Sid's Trains posted:

Thanks Pat. It sure wasn't the easiest thing in the world, but I got it done. After doing it I got a Pittman for you to work on 😉.

Not a problem, ...i have the parts here to rebuild the 9434J434,.....that should be the standard MTH Premier Pittman motor part number,.....all the bigger Premier use that same motor,...

Pat

Point of detail - what are you using for a Mars Light simulator? Don’t some RCMC boards have outputs for that feature? My only experience is with an early Legacy board (1st run of FEF-3s) where the output just produces a blinker effect; later Legacy has a more realistic effect, about on a par with some dedicated TMCC Mars effect boards.

I’ve used the Ngineering Mars Light simulator for a number of engines - mostly 3rd Rail before Scott started using their products himself. It is highly realistic.

@Hancock52 posted:

Point of detail - what are you using for a Mars Light simulator? Don’t some RCMC boards have outputs for that feature? My only experience is with an early Legacy board (1st run of FEF-3s) where the output just produces a blinker effect; later Legacy has a more realistic effect, about on a par with some dedicated TMCC Mars effect boards.

I’ve used the Ngineering Mars Light simulator for a number of engines - mostly 3rd Rail before Scott started using their products himself. It is highly realistic.

I am going to check the rcmc. 9f not I will use a low voltage Ngineering simulator.

Nice job. I wonder if you'll be able to update the RS board to one from the latest GS class release. The one you're using has the incorrect whistle for a SP GS class. Lionel used some generic whistle in the last LEgact version from a few years ago.

I converted a Premier WP GS64 into a SP GS6 last year. Had no boards or wiring and was missing a few parts. Used a MTH PS3 kit and their GS class sound file has the correct SP "tug boat" whistle.

@Lou1985 posted:

Nice job. I wonder if you'll be able to update the RS board to one from the latest GS class release. The one you're using has the incorrect whistle for a SP GS class. Lionel used some generic whistle in the last LEgact version from a few years ago.

I converted a Premier WP GS64 into a SP GS6 last year. Had no boards or wiring and was missing a few parts. Used a MTH PS3 kit and their GS class sound file has the correct SP "tug boat" whistle.

Thanks. I do know the whistle is incorrect. I do admit the 4449 did wear a higher pitch whistle as the AFT, but this whistle instead is more for a GS2. I will look into other sounds when they become available.

I know the first Legacy issue had the correct GS class whistle. If you can find that RS board you'd be good to go.

This is the Legacy version that has the correct whistle:

@Lou1985 posted:

I know the first Legacy issue had the correct GS class whistle. If you can find that RS board you'd be good to go.

This is the Legacy version that has the correct whistle:

Yes I know 4436 has the correct soundset, but that is the old modular soundset. I'm using the RS lite. I would need a RS lite with that whistle.

@Sid's Trains posted:

Yes I know 4436 has the correct soundset, but that is the old modular soundset. I'm using the RS lite. I would need a RS lite with that whistle.

Ah yeah then you're stuck. Have to probably wait on parts from the new run.

Sid, I have the same engine and I can only dream about doing that conversion.  Great job, enjoyed all your photos and descriptions.

@FrankRazz posted:

Sid, I have the same engine and I can only dream about doing that conversion.  Great job, enjoyed all your photos and descriptions.

Thank you. If your interested I am always up for doing customer work 😉. Email me if you are interested.