I receive this week-end this old 3 rail PS1 engine NIB and doesn't work. Sounds, lights and smoke unit are awesome but the engine doesn't move cause the DCS remote doesn't add the engine. I change the battery in the tender and I wait for kids to wake up to try it.
If it doesn't work, I'm gonna purchase the MTH PS1 reset kit.
Could you tell me if I'm on the right way?
Note that everybody else works great on my lay-out, all engines and all accessories.
Thanks!
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Everything else! Not everybody else. Sorry for my poor english.
I forget something, the MTH number of the reset kit is 50-1023
The DCS remote will not wake up a PS1 engine. In conventional mode, set transformer to 8 volts, then hit direction. This will start it in forward direction.
J-C;
This engine will not load up in your DCS remote because it is proto-sound (PS1) and not PS2. The features of this engine are transformer controlled. MTH did not start putting PS2 in their engines until 2000. Your engine is a 1997 issue.
Enjoy your engine.
Thanx!
Do you know if I can replace the PS1 kit by the PS2 steam conversion kit #50-1901 and put it in the UP 4012 big boy engine on the DCS remote even if it's not the official sounds of this engine?
Thanx again boys, because of you I'm gonna work and have fun to fix it in the right way.
I had a PS-1 converted to PS-2 and I am extremely happy with it but here is what I was told...
Because of the cost of the PS-2 board and the labor to put it in, you might want to consider selling the PS-1 and putting the money towards a new engine. Check out the cost of a new or used PS-2 engine that is comparable to the one you have and decide if it is worth it to you to do the upgrade, buy a different engine or be happy with what you have. The "best" decision varies from person to person and depends on what is important to them.
The reason I upgraded mine instead of purchasing a different engine is that it was a gift from my wife and had a great deal of sentimental value. I wanted to be able to run it under DCS and have all the sounds and features. I also wanted to be able to recharge the battery without removing the shell and to avoid all the PS-1 hassles. My wife ended up purchasing the upgrade for an anniversary gift and now it is even more special to me.
You should also know that you CAN run your PS-1 engine with your DCS remote. You just have to treat it as a "conventional" engine. Also, if you have the MTH Z-4000 transformer, you can program your PS-1 engine with it. I never got the hang of this but it does work. I can try to help you find the instructions for this if you want.
Yes, this engine could be upgraded with the kit. I recently did a Yellowstone, similar engine of similar age, and it was very easy. If you are not familiar with working on these engines a suggest investing in the OGR Backshop video that goes through the upgrade process. Very well done and informative.
I had a PS-1 converted to PS-2 and I am extremely happy with it but here is what I was told...
Because of the cost of the PS-2 board and the labor to put it in, you might want to consider selling the PS-1 and putting the money towards a new engine. Check out the cost of a new or used PS-2 engine that is comparable to the one you have and decide if it is worth it to you to do the upgrade, buy a different engine or be happy with what you have. The "best" decision varies from person to person and depends on what is important to them.
The reason I upgraded mine instead of purchasing a different engine is that it was a gift from my wife and had a great deal of sentimental value. I wanted to be able to run it under DCS and have all the sounds and features. I also wanted to be able to recharge the battery without removing the shell and to avoid all the PS-1 hassles. My wife ended up purchasing the upgrade for an anniversary gift and now it is even more special to me.
You should also know that you CAN run your PS-1 engine with your DCS remote. You just have to treat it as a "conventional" engine. Also, if you have the MTH Z-4000 transformer, you can program your PS-1 engine with it. I never got the hang of this but it does work. I can try to help you find the instructions for this if you want.
As this would be an 800 to 1200 dollar purchase to replace, upgrading is quite economical. Especially if he is confident in doing the work himself.
Thanx Eric and Charly,
Conventionnal mode, I don't think of it, I see on the remote only 2 choices: MTH engine and TMCC engine. I'm gonna try for sure before I get the PS2 upgrade (about 200$).
The reason why I purchase this engine is simple, the first steam engine I want, is the biggest, I'm new in the hobby.
To be honest, I pay 550$ + shipping and taxes 150$ the upgrade kit gonna cost me about 250 to 300$ + 4 hours of work. I'm under a thousand for a NIB PS2 big boy engine.
I don't know if Lionel or MTH premier could charge for it in 2012 but not less than 1300$ + shipping and taxes (about 200$ in Canada)
I'm gonna give this engine a try especially that no catalog offers a big boy this year except MTH with railking line but this line of products is not the direction I want to go in the hobby.
Thanx again for your help!
I have upgraded a premier big boy from PS1 to PS2 and have photos. I can send you photos if you want to give me your email address.
Sure sir Glenney, my e-mail adress is heros88@me.com
I try to run it on conventionnal mode and I don't have success today but I'm gonna try other things.
Thanx!
If the engine was that old you should do a feature 18 reset after installing the new battery.
" downsized a bit"-its downsized alot more than a bit.its 2/3 the size of the premier big boy. once you have the scale size trains ,nothing else compares.-jim
It works sir Fitzhenry! Thanks a LOT to all people who help me. PS2 upgrade later for sure! you can hear my son who listen the big boy downstairs at the end of the video. I think smoke unit doesn't want to work on conventionnal, I don't know. 18 reset feature works finally. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...x=1&feature=plcp
Mixerman;
Downsized yes, 2/3??? Hardly. 29 vs 35" makes is just shy of 83% and most of the compression is in the tender. I know, I have 2 of them.
heros88;
Check on the bottom of the engine for a smoke switch, it may be turned off.
It is located above the trailing wheel set, move the wheels while looking for it.
The wick may be burned if it was run dry with the switch on, in that case the wick can be replaced.
Did you get the manual with the engine?
If not you can download a copy from MTH, just put the engine number in the search box and follow to the engine, click the picture of a manual and it opens a .pdf onscreen, save for later. I see that engine also gives a parts breakdown, I would get that as well.
Thanx sir Russell,
For sure, smoke unit is on.
Never miss fluid but it's a 1997 engine, so I'm prepare for something.
It's a NIB engine, the manual is there but I see nothing about the 18 reset feature, I read the manual but english is my second language, by far, my first is french.
Nothing like passionate trainfans like you here to learn about the hobby. People here don't work, they have fun. You don't know how people here are precious for me.
Thanks for helping me sir Russell.
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