Mth premier Sd70ace 3rs to 3rh conversion

It should be little problem swapping pilots. I went the other way. The main difference is they use different length handrails but new ones can be made of brass or steel wire. You will likely need an electro coupler too. BTW I purchased the fixed pilot. I didn't try to use the movable pilot to fix it to the body. So its easy if you can buy the pilot. More difficult if you try to use the one you have.

Pete

That’s good news. I’ll put out a wanted add for the pilots wheels and couplers!

Thats your best bet now that MTH parts will be problematic for the foreseeable future.

Pete

I wouldnt wreck a scale wheels locomotive. Theres so few of them, I'm sure it wouldnt be much trouble to list it for sale and get the one you want. (or just return it)

Youd need pilots, couplers and all the hand rails to convert it. Maybe theres someone out there to trade, but for as many SD70s as MTH has run, its shouldnt be too hard to find a 3 rail one. 

Its an easy swap. He just needs to find someone who wants to go the other way. It would be a win-win. Much easier for a 2 rail guy to swap pilots than to try and fix the three rail pilot to his engine not mention look much better. Who knows maybe the other person has the same engine so a complete swap could be good.

Pete

It’s the 20-2774-2 I believe. It’s even stranger in that the center axles have 3r scale flanged wheels but the outer axles are hirail wheels! Someone was confused!!

@NYCBuffalo posted:

It’s the 20-2774-2 I believe. It’s even stranger in that the center axles have 3r scale flanged wheels but the outer axles are hirail wheels! Someone was confused!!

That sounds like one of the "Original 7" MTH Heritage sets. The hi-rail locomotive shows up on eBay periodically. You should have no trouble selling the scale-wheel version to offset the cost. That'll save you a lot of work and grief.

There's a 20-2774-1 up right now for $449 or make an offer. I'm pretty sure the 20-2774-2 you have will sell quickly.

Hi all

i posted in the wtb section but wanted to add a post here too. Still looking for hirail blind center drive wheel axle sets (2) and truck mounted pilots if anyone has some. The scale wheels and fixed pilots are up for trade.

I converted scale wheels to high rail on a 6 axle diesel, but I left the center axle scale wheels in place instead of replacing them with the blind wheels. Mine runs fine on O-72. Try running yours on the tightest curves that you have.

I have some 54 and 42 that it runs around ok but seems tight. I know engine is 42 or 54 min. I think blind may help.

I would have responded earlier. I have more engines than I can fit right now. I stopped buying them. I did sell off a couple of early models and intended to upgrade with PS3 replacements. I even gave one to a friend who I felt deserved one ( a famous OGR member).

In the beginning, I cut most of my stock 3 rail pilots and add a shim to make them fixed. I then found that I could buy fixed pilots. Only a few were available.

Later I casted my own fixed pilots. The last few models I converted, I went back to adding a shim.

I saved a few stock 3 rail pilots for any engine that I'd sell later on as a 3 rail model. My only ACe in UP paint is already equipped with fixed pilots. If I did have 3 rail pilots, they'd need to be painted to match UP colors.

Added to the fact that you only have 2 2rail middle axles, I skipped by this post. You probably need someone who has a six axle set of hi-rail and intends to make a 4 axle engine into scale wheels to trade with.

 I do have a set from a GE model UP DASH8 I believe? I never looked to see if they match the ACe.

Here's what the GE pilots look like ( did you email me?)

@Norton posted:

It should be little problem swapping pilots. I went the other way. The main difference is they use different length handrails but new ones can be made of brass or steel wire. You will likely need an electro coupler too. BTW I purchased the fixed pilot. I didn't try to use the movable pilot to fix it to the body. So its easy if you can buy the pilot. More difficult if you try to use the one you have.

 

 

Pete

you must have used KD couplers?

Otherwise you have to make the coupler hole way bigger? 

Joe, the Pilots for the GE and the SD70ACe are not similar to CrossFit between the two.  Just FYI 

@Engineer-Joe posted:

you must have used KD couplers?

Otherwise you have to make the coupler hole way bigger? 

Joe, these engines will always be at the head so I treat them as a steam engine. The scale/kadee coupler will never get coupled to anything. 4141 is a two rail engine. 1943 is a three rail engine that received a fixed two rail pilot. The rear still moves with the truck and has its claw.

4141 actually has a dummy claw in the coupler pocket.

@Jeff78rr posted:

Joe, the Pilots for the GE and the SD70ACe are not similar to CrossFit between the two.  Just FYI 

I figure that to be for the fixed pilots. I could use them on a different engine.

For him, I wonder if the GE floating pilots would fit? Don't the screw holes line up?

I've had them both apart but never tried to swap between those models. 

I'll also have to dig thru boxes of parts and see what I have in 3 rail pilots for MTH left over. I've traded and sold with people and lost track of what's left!

As long as an engine runs on my 2 rail, I don't look back.

I admit those pilots look different than the original sd70 pilots. Do they use 2 mounting screws down thru the pilot into the top of the truck? I did email privately too Joe if you want to discuss offline or find any other pilots in your stash that might work.

heres what I found online for thev70ace