MTH 20-20310-1 DRGW PA ABA convertible to scale Wheels?

This is tongue-in- cheek:

 

Are you suggesting that 3-railers are better spellers than 2-railers?

 

If it helps your question, note that MTH is upgrading its trucks slowly, and the convertible style generally uses the correct wheelbase and real coil springs.  The old style trucks are generally incorrect wheelbase.  The MTH PA is among the very most accurate of the O Scale PAs, but I am betting the trucks are still the old style.  I have not seen the new ones, and they are not in my catalog.

 If this helps, if the bottom of the trucks are plastic, they are removable covers that make swapping the axles easy: hence 3/2.

 There are some models that get released with the old style trucks still. If I see a blind axle on one end showing, I know they are the old style truck.

bob2.  Thanks for catching it.  It's corrected.  Or both are wrong? ha, ha.

http://mthtrains.com/content/20-20310-1

I don't see it and would doubt that they are the newer truck blocks. I'm starting to believe that they are putting on what they have.

 I have seen where the three rail model has the new, yet the matching dummy has the old trucks. Not always. Now they're canceling some two rail releases. It gets frustrating.

Good afternoon

I think the only way to know for sure is to see the model in person and look at the trucks. Maybe someone has a new release and can look for us. The RS11 are 2/3 rail and never offered in 2 rail.

 

Clem

NO, The Alco PAs can not accept scale wheels.

 SantaFeJim, could you be more specific?  How do you know that NONE can be converted?  I'm not saying you're wrong.  But, more detail on why the PA's can't it be converted would help.  Like what Engineer-Joe (thanks, E-Joe) is saying seems to bear this out.  And is it indeed all PA's?  Perhaps it's all MTH diesels with 6 wheel trucks and with the blind wheel set on the end of the trucks instead of in the middle.  Or is it something else or in addition. 

 

Thanks, Bill

The box says it is convertible but the trucks do not look like you can convert them. Im not taking mine apart to tell you but the bottoms of the trucks do not come off and the blind axle at the back looks to have the axle installed with the wheels pressed on

One can convert anything.  NWSL has a kit, and it can be done by almost anyone with mechanical aptitude.  The original MTH PA could be had with scale wheels.

 

The new trucks are a step up.  I have not seen them, but understand that all axles are powered, and all axles can be replaced with a screwdriver.  Also, they are making the attempt to get the wheelbase correct.  These are gorgeous PAs. but I would wait for the new truck blocks.

 

I hope the new trucks are as easy to maintain and as long-lived as the old ones.  We get literally years of eight hour days out of these things.  I replace axle gears at three year intervals, worms at nine year intervals, and axle bearings seldom.  As in twice.

The blind axle is not powered and slides in a slot in the frame with no brass bearings

Thanks to all for your help.  I was hoping that it would be a simple, straightforward swap.  Buy the 3 rail MTH engines and the MTH 2 rail wheel sets and do the swap and got on with life. But, your collective inputs show that it's ain't gonna happen.  So, I'll keep looking for 2 rail Rio Grande 1st generation cab units and will consider it a bonus if it turns out to be MTH PS3 DCC/DCS 2 rail/3 rail like my two MTH PS3 steam engines which I successfully run at home 2 rail/DCC and at the club 3 rail?DCS. 

 

Bill 

Bill     You could use NWSL conversion kits. It wouldn't be as strait forward as MTH's 3-2 convertible wheel sets, but it is a possible solution.       Stephen     (cTr...Choose the Right)

Stephen.  Appreciate your input. bob2 also mentioned the NWSL solution.  I've seen these in the on-line NWSL catalog and I also have all their catalogs.  And I have a Sensipress and wheel pullers if needed.  But, I just have a huge backlog of higher priority projects and so was looking for the quick and dirty solution. Thx, Bill