MTH B&A J-2c Hudson LEGACY Conversion (FINAL VIDEO).

Bruk, it'll be interesting to see how this goes.  I wonder if you'll have a problem with the gear ratio matching the speed to other Legacy locomotives?  After my Challenger, this should be a breeze.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

Bruk, it'll be interesting to see how this goes.  I wonder if you'll have a problem with the gear ratio matching the speed to other Legacy locomotives?  After my Challenger, this should be a breeze.

Wonder who’s engine this is.  Speed matching is not a concern, I’ll never lash this up with any other engine.  If this project is a success which I’m sure it will be, I have two more to convert.

Great photos!  I assume that you can therefore buy Lionel Legacy decoders and retrofit like you are doing here?  From what I have been reading the new Legacy system is supposed to be NMRA compliant but earlier systems were not.  Is yours an NMRA compliant Legacy system?

@Robbin posted:

Great photos!  I assume that you can therefore buy Lionel Legacy decoders and retrofit like you are doing here?  From what I have been reading the new Legacy system is supposed to be NMRA compliant but earlier systems were not.  Is yours an NMRA compliant Legacy system?

When I wire these up I try to follow NMRA color requirements. These are the last generation of LEGACY boards. 2020-now will be the new gen.

Now we get to figure out the wiring for the new generation of Legacy boards as well as the new LC+ 2.0 boards!   It never ends!

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

Bruk, it'll be interesting to see how this goes.  I wonder if you'll have a problem with the gear ratio matching the speed to other Legacy locomotives?  After my Challenger, this should be a breeze.

Ratio is 16:1 on this guy. Using a hudson board that has the same ratio. I did an Atlas GP9 recently. My guy said it runs flawless with other Lionel diesels because it matches the ratio’s (10:1) 

Bruk, that's fortunate, and it'll also be nice that the speeds are correct if you happen to want to run it with other Legacy.

Progress report on the engine:

• Installed encoder PCB and new flywheel.
• Found that the original flywheel I was going to use didn’t fit in the shell.
• I pulled another flywheel off a personal project that fits perfectly.
• I made a bracket for the RCMC and repurposed the MUX bracket to mount in the shell.
• Installed Flickering Fire box PCB to the motor.
• Installed program/run switch.
• Wired and gave it a initial test

Moving right along, is Gary going to get it next week?

How bout that! 4 chuffs on the first try

Precisely why I contribute my measley $1 a month to this forum.

Between Bruk, John, Alex, Pat, Lou, Pete, Sid....I'm sure I'm missing somebody, probably several. There is simply no reason anyone should  have to shelve a "modern locomotive" due to electronics failure or whatever. At least, until the means to rebuild/upgrade runs dry.

Its good to know there are expert techs an email away should a problem or "want" arise.

@RickO posted:

How bout that! 4 chuffs on the first try

Precisely why I contribute my measley $1 a month to this forum.

Between Bruk, John, Alex, Pat, Lou, Pete....I'm sure I'm missing somebody, probably several. There is simply no reason anyone should  have to shelve a "modern locomotive" due to electronics failure or whatever. At least, until the means to rebuild/upgrade runs dry.

Its good to know there are expert techs an email away should a problem or "want" arise.

Just the craftsmanship of how things come together is astonishing. Gotta love it.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

Moving right along, is Gary going to get it next week?

If I had the high temp 3d printed parts 😋

I guess that would slow things down.

I’m in no rush, I’d rather have done right over done fast.  I am looking forward to the completed video though.

So I'm assuming Legacy uses 12V Canon motors and not 15V? I know that MTH Pittman in the J-2C is a 12V motor. The PS3 steam kits I've installed don't seem to care if the motor is a 12V  or 15V motor.

I'll be picking up a Legacy ATSF 3751 class Northern (from the 2019 run) shortly and I want to swap out the Canon for one of the ball bearing/rare earth magnet 9000 series Pittmans I've been using in my recent PS3 builds. They are 12V motors, and I'd like to make sure the electronics will be fine with them.

Yes I know I'll void the **** out of the warranty but that's hot rodding 😉.

@Lou1985 posted:

So I'm assuming Legacy uses 12V Canon motors and not 15V? I know that MTH Pittman in the J-2C is a 12V motor. The PS3 steam kits I've installed don't seem to care if the motor is a 12V  or 15V motor.

I'll be picking up a Legacy ATSF 3751 class Northern (from the 2019 run) shortly and I want to swap out the Canon for one of the ball bearing/rare earth magnet 9000 series Pittmans I've been using in my recent PS3 builds. They are 12V motors, and I'd like to make sure the electronics will be fine with them.

Yes I know I'll void the **** out of the warranty but that's hot rodding 😉.

Not to start a debate. It should be just fine. 99% of these boards I use come from models that have canon motors. I have had no issues or complaints.

@Bruk posted:

Not to start a debate. It should be just fine. 99% of these boards I use come from models that have canon motors. I have had no issues or complaints.

Just wondering if the Legacy boards have to have a 12V or 15V motor or not. If they don't care (like PS3) then I can go with whichever one I have handy.

I'm virtually certain that the exact voltage specification between 12V and 15V shouldn't make a significant difference.  By the time you get 12 volts on the motor, you're flying down the track!  The RCMC isn't checking the motor label, it's just feeding the motor power based on the throttle setting and tach feedback.

The issue isn't max voltage rating but rather stall current. A 12v motor of similar construction will have a higher stall current. Also greater starting torque. Since Lionel used 12 and 15 volt Pittmans interchangably in their TMCC engines I am pretty sure its not an issue in their Legacy engines. For sure putting a 15v motor in an engine that came with a 12v one won't harm the engine. It just may not pull as cleanly from a stop with a string of cars.

Pete

@Norton posted:

The issue isn't max voltage rating but rather stall current. A 12v motor of similar construction will have a higher stall current. Also greater starting torque. Since Lionel used 12 and 15 volt Pittmans interchangably in their TMCC engines I am pretty sure its not an issue in their Legacy engines. For sure putting a 15v motor in an engine that came with a 12v one won't harm the engine. It just may not pull as cleanly from a stop with a string of cars.

Pete

Yes Norton you are correct. I had stall current issues with one of my upgrades and resolved it with a Pittman. Also if there are any compatibility issues the RCMC or BEMC will go into stall mode and give you the cab error light. Either way it is fine and I personally see no issues with using a 12v vs 15v.

Interesting project.  I did something similar years ago, but with an MTH Santa Fe 2900 Northern.   

@Norton posted:

The issue isn't max voltage rating but rather stall current. A 12v motor of similar construction will have a higher stall current. Also greater starting torque. Since Lionel used 12 and 15 volt Pittmans interchangably in their TMCC engines I am pretty sure its not an issue in their Legacy engines. For sure putting a 15v motor in an engine that came with a 12v one won't harm the engine. It just may not pull as cleanly from a stop with a string of cars.

Pete

I'll just use either a 12V or 15V Pittman, depending on what I have handy.

Back to the original topic.

Wrapping up this J2C:

I received the 3d printed smoke unit parts this weekend. Allowing me to get this loco finished up. If you seen the Lionel Dreyfus conversion its pretty similar in design.

With these non Lionel conversions the shell or a major part like a pilot or Cab will have to be the antenna so it has to be insulated from the frame. I was able to 3d print insulator bushings for this project.

On this loco not only did I insulate the shell from the frame, I ended up using the boiler face as the antenna. The boiler face is insulated from the shell too. “Double protection” I found this to be the best option for this loco.

It works perfectly no signal interruptions.

Video BELOW!

Awesome, saw your YouTube video.  Awesome job, can’t wait to get this back and send you the next project over the summer.

@superwarp1 posted:

Awesome, saw your YouTube video.  Awesome job, can’t wait to get this back and send you the next project over the summer.

Its got to be the smoothest running engine I've worked on so far.

HERE IT IS!

Outstanding Job!!!

Looks and sounds great Bruk, does reverse work?

Excellent job!

Dr.Legacy has done it again,....outstanding!..

Pat

Love the whistle steam!  Looking forward to my N&W 1218 Class A conversion to Legacy.

Neal Jeter

Amazing work but what was the reasoning for this complete change?

@DMASSO posted:

Amazing work but what was the reasoning for this complete change?

Lots.

PS2 sounds, really not a fan.  Getting stale in my opinion but I love legacy railsounds

Love Operating my legacy engines,  hardly ever run my DCS anymore

Love whistle steam

Will there be support for DCS PS2/3 in the future?  Who knows

cheaper than purchasing new engines.

I have two more engines I want Burk to convert over the next year.  Giving new life to old engines.

Gotcha Gary. Ed and I will have to run up there at your next open house. This will be nice up close.

Sounds great. Nice job.

Wow!!!

Not only a great conversion, the model itself appears to have a prototypically correct boiler with curved underside! Fantastic work.