Premier P5a boxcab replacement shell

Simple question, are the lights in the new shell LED's?

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

Simple question, are the lights in the new shell LED's?

These new shells are extras from the latest run of the P5a which is proto3. I would assume the new shell has an LED headlights. I dont believe my proto 2 version has a LED headlight. I dont like to assume. I guess I will have to start opening up headlights to check. Marker lights appear to be LED's on both shells. Hopefully I am making too much of this. I hope that is the case. But I have waited for this new replacement shell for 5 years and 3 months. It would be a shame just to plug in harnesses to boards and take out boards and not be able to have it repaired.

When in doubt, swap it all out, ……take pics move slow, if you waited 5 years, 2-3 hours with a sandwich break and you’ll be sure of what you got….

Pat

@harmonyards posted:

When in doubt, swap it all out, ……take pics move slow, if you waited 5 years, 2-3 hours with a sandwich break and you’ll be sure of what you got….

Pat

I was assuming that I would have to do that all along.I was surprised to hear all I had to do was plug in a few harnesses. I think I should talk to MTH a second time about this. I am not the only one who has waited for these replacements. I would hate to see others take out boards. Not doubting MTH. For all I know they could very well have taken all this into consideration before sending out the shells. I am very very appreciative of MTH for making good on their promise to send out replacements to those who were on the list. This all started long before MTH made the going out of business announcement. Maybe they had intentions of having owners send the loco into MTH for the shell swap. Since MTH no longer has service, that is no longer an option.

@jini5 posted:

I was assuming that I would have to do that all along.I was surprised to hear all I had to do was plug in a few harnesses. I think I should talk to MTH a second time about this. I am not the only one who has waited for these replacements. I would hate to see others take out boards. Not doubting MTH. For all I know they could very well have taken all this into consideration before sending out the shells. I am very very appreciative of MTH for making good on their promise to send out replacements to those who were on the list. This all started long before MTH made the going out of business announcement. Maybe they had intentions of having owners send the loco into MTH for the shell swap. Since MTH no longer has service, that is no longer an option.

I wouldn’t even worry about calling them, …..I mean you can if it’ll make you feel better, but clearly stuff doesn’t look the same from one shell to the other, …sounds like time to get busy, ….just remember in wiring, blue before yellow kills the fellow!……..oh wait, that’s bomb disposal wiring, ……disregard ….😉

Pat

Jim I will be calling MTH tomorrow and I can ask any question needed. Just let me know as I hope to be in the same Postion as you are very soon. Except mine has never been powered up. When I unpacked it and learned of the Zinc Pest issue I was afraid to even open the unit up to replace the battery of a GRJ BCR.

Swap stuff from your PS2 shell to the PS3 shell. Install shell. Enjoy.

I agree that you move your PS-2 guts into the new shell.  Those do look like PS-3 leds and it has a different wiring setup on those 10 pin jumpers I bet.  G

I followed up on my replacement shell today and please read as follows.

Folks I spoke with MTH today and they advised to do nothing as there are some issues that jini5 has raised, and they are working on sorting them out. The swap can be done but with some modifications. They will hold shipping off the replacement shells until they work out the issues. Jim is correct the new shell is a PS3 shell and there are differences.

It's promising that they're actually sorting out the issues for the replacements.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

It's promising that they're actually sorting out the issues for the replacements.

John yes it is MTH is really stepping up and standing behind this issue. I had a really nice conversation with Rich today about this and several other question I had on PS3 Upgrade kits.  He has a few and was going to ration them out to make sure everyone that had them on order would get at least one. I Have four on order and told him I would wait and send mine to a service tech.

As a conclusion to my issue with the MTH P5a Zinc Rot  and the question posted about the differences between the old shell and the replacement shell. Rich at MTH requested if I would send my P5a to them so they can replace the shell and create and document the procedure for installing the replacement shell and include the procedure with the replacement shells being sent out.  Currently MTH has my P5a and is doing just that with it. I am currently on vacation and when we return home I will reach out to MTH to have the unit returned to me. Everything I have heard from MTH on this issue is they are standing behind the replacement 100% and am looking forward to getting mine back.