I am looking to do a protosound 3 upgrade for my c&o premier greenbrier. What is the going rate for this service?
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You might be better off looking for someone that has experience and references for their work, rather than shopping for the cheapest rate. Frequently, you get what you pay for. 
Peter,
Follow this MTH link to find a service center.
https://mthtrains.com/authoriz...ervice-center-search
bruce
I have a GB&W RS-27 which is PS-1. I was thinking of purchasing a PS-3 GB&W RS-11. I asked my local MTH guru if the RS-27 could be modified to run as a slave unit behind the RS-11. He said "No Way". Is he correct? Thanks for your replies.
To pay a reputable tech to do the work theyre going to charge you between $200 & $250 for labor
Bruce D Goettel posted:I have a GB&W RS-27 which is PS-1. I was thinking of purchasing a PS-3 GB&W RS-11. I asked my local MTH guru if the RS-27 could be modified to run as a slave unit behind the RS-11. He said "No Way". Is he correct? Thanks for your replies.
From what I have seen on the Forum, your guru is correct. When MTH was still using PS2, they made slave boards for their AA units and such; there is no equivalent component in the PS3 era. The only way to run them both powered together is to upgrade the PS1 unit to PS3 and create a lashup in the DCS system (if you have one).
Edit: See Matt's post below.
I have also seen this in practice; when I was at my LHS over the summer, a tech brought in a PS1 to PS3 conversion of an EMD demo E8 pair, in which he installed two separate PS3 boards, essentially creating two engines.
The only other option is gutting the PS1 electronics and motors to create a dummy.
Oh but there are PS3 slave boards. I have plenty of ABA loco sets with PS3 salve boards in them. MTH doesnt make the ABA loco sets anymore and MTH no longer makes a slave board PS3 upgrade kit for the PS3 upgrades like they did with the PS2 upgrades. Youll have to make it a full conversion. But I do have a slave board I'll sell you if you want to make it a PS3 slave unit. Its up to you to source a PS3 harness for it tho
Hello, I know a gentleman who can do this upgrade for you at a very,very reasonable price. Contact me though my e-mail in my profile and I will give you his contact information.-Kenny B
All of you in the Western PA/ Eastern Ohio area- the O Gauger Breakfast Group will meet in early March (9th- in New Castle PA) to see a presentation on this subject.
If you want details, and some information from past meetings- most recently a session on diagnosis and repair of Postwar Lionel- e-mail me:
mikewyatt49@gmail.com
I must not be reputable Matt, I don't charge that much for the labor on a straight PS/1 to PS/3 upgrade. 
gunrunnerjohn posted:You might be better off looking for someone that has experience and references for their work, rather than shopping for the cheapest rate. Frequently, you get what you pay for.
Peter, I checked your profile, and see you are new to the Forum. Welcome.
I suggest you e-mail John (gunrunnerjohn) off line. You can see he is an MTH Certified Technician and not that far from you. I know there is at least one person in Maryland who does upgrades, but I trust John to give you the fair scoop. Shipping the Greenbrier could run up the cost unless you pick someone close by you. I know Matt is good too, but he is in Minnesota, a lot of shipping cost there.
GGG in Virginia has done good work for me.
I feel slighted John.
You should
My labor rate is less also. If you search on this forum you can see some of my work. I also repair boards at the component level. G
Bruce D Goettel posted:I have a GB&W RS-27 which is PS-1. I was thinking of purchasing a PS-3 GB&W RS-11. I asked my local MTH guru if the RS-27 could be modified to run as a slave unit behind the RS-11. He said "No Way". Is he correct? Thanks for your replies.
Some techs can scratch build to do this. I can still do a slave upgrade. The problem with this conversion is that it was not meant to be a Slave engine like an ABA is. So, you will have a tether between the two, and a truck either needs machine work to attach a tether mount point or you modify the body with a hole to hang a tether out of. SO labor is going to get high. It is easier to do a PS-3 upgrade to both, have 2 engines, and just run as a MU or Lash up. G
gunrunnerjohn posted:I must not be reputable Matt, I don't charge that much for the labor on a straight PS/1 to PS/3 upgrade.
Just curious John, Are you taking repairs right now with the move & layout construction going on?
I don't mind doing simpler PS3 & ERR upgrades for drop-off only customers but for the more complex & intracate stuff I have them contact you or G.
I'm done moving, so I'm doing upgrades again. 
Besides, I need the money to do the layout!
My bad, I meant $150 to $200
GGG posted:…. I also repair boards at the component level. G
and thanks once again for that! 
Bailed me out again.
Good to have you doing it.
OOPS! Gunrunnerjohn has done good work for me.
Wow. Great to hear all of you guys have availability. Looks like this is is going to be a repair/upgrade year.
