PS3 upgrade kit

The challenger has only 1 smoke unit, it is the funnel that splits in two.

The mth specs specifically mentions that it has 2 smoke units. 20-3002-1. So my original question still stands.

Mike

Open it up take a picture and post it of the two smoke units please. Every MTH steam that I have seen that have a double smoke output it is the funnel that divides it, but I am not even from Missouri but you have to show me that one.. Would love to see how Mike fit two of his smoke units in there especially considering the size of the PS-1 smoke units.

I have a pre-DCS Challenger, which I bought when released about 1995 (before the RailKing/Premier split).  I didn't get PS1; got whistle only.  It has one smoke unit.  Incidentally, I upgraded it to PS2 about 12 years ago.

If you're planning to upgrade, be aware you will have to enlarge the hole on the loco where the socket goes, and be careful to insulate the tiny diodes(or caps) on the socket so they don't touch the frame.

I read what the web site says, and how many thousands of threads have there been on the manufacturer shipped a product without all the advertised features? Was just trying to help you.

No dog in this discussion, but....  a 1994 version could have been Seuthe smoke and therefore have 2 smoke unit, but they are not fan driven.  If seuthe I would not connect them to the upgrade kit board.

Either way, if you have a unit with two fan driven smoke units, the PS-2 3V and PS-32 or PS-3 upgrades can handle 2 units.  You would have to splice the wires to add the second unit as the harness provided is for one smoke unit.  G

Thanks to all. I don't currently own this locomotive. I was just tryin to get informed before I make a bid on it.

Regards,

Mike

Ask the seller if he has had it opened and how many and what type are they before you bid. If he ever did any service he should know. As was stated the upgrade kit can handle two units but it's really not recommended if they are Seuthe units, so having it correct could make a big difference. I even went back to the oldest parts catalog that I have that shows the schematics for all the model steam engines at that time and it doesn't show the Challenger at all. Sorry couldn't be more help, would like to know myself just what is in it, so hope someone on the Forum has this engine and clear it up.

Mine did have a fan unit, which failed under warranty and was replaced with a slightly different one.  It was bought July 1996. Model 30-1107.

Why are we comparing RK to PR, and PS-2 5v and other Challengers to the specific model he mentioned.  Very early MTH did have Seuthe smoke unit. That is a fact.   I know, I have upgraded them.   G

This specific unit may have been conventional. The owner states it was sent to MTH in 1995 for a protosound 1.1 upgrade. Would the seuthe smoke units have been changed then or would they still be original. The current owner doesn't seem to know much about the smoke units.

Mike

GGG, I didn't pick up on the model number in WInger's second post. 

Winger, I note the MTH web site lists a dealer in Nebraska still having one new.  Might be worth checking what it would sell the new one for.

I just upgraded one of these.  The original had two sluthe units.  They must be drilled out and replaced with a single unit using a dual funnel.  

Although MTH boards will support two smoke units, I have never seen two units in a dual stack steam engine.

You will need to purchase an MTH smoke unit and a Lionel funnel.  You will also need to figure out how to mount it in the boiler.

Good luck!

Dave

Thanks GGG and Dave for clearing it up as to what was in the early Challenger. At least the original poster knows what he would be dealing with.

Winger posted:

This specific unit may have been conventional. The owner states it was sent to MTH in 1995 for a protosound 1.1 upgrade. Would the seuthe smoke units have been changed then or would they still be original. The current owner doesn't seem to know much about the smoke units.

Mike

 

No they would not do smoke.  These early units had the first version of PS-1 with limited capability for features.  But they were upgradable to better PS-1.  A new chip with more memory and features like PFA and engine lock out, etc...   G

David Minarik posted:

I just upgraded one of these.  The original had two sluthe units.  They must be drilled out and replaced with a single unit using a dual funnel.  

Although MTH boards will support two smoke units, I have never seen two units in a dual stack steam engine.

You will need to purchase an MTH smoke unit and a Lionel funnel.  You will also need to figure out how to mount it in the boiler.

Good luck!

 

Dave

 

 

Dave, you know they push out from inside boiler and up!  I never had to drill one out.  You are correct with using a Lionel funnel, I had to do the same thing for a Williams Brass Bigboy.  But now that MTH has reissued a BigBoy I think you can get a full smoke assembly with the funnel.  I imagine they may have added some to stock.  G

Does anyone have the part numbers? Although my luck with getting hold of someone at mth or having emails answered is minimal at best!

GGG posted:

David Minarik posted:

I just upgraded one of these.  The original had two sluthe units.  They must be drilled out and replaced with a single unit using a dual funnel.  

Although MTH boards will support two smoke units, I have never seen two units in a dual stack steam engine.

You will need to purchase an MTH smoke unit and a Lionel funnel.  You will also need to figure out how to mount it in the boiler.

Good luck!

 

Dave

 

 

Dave, you know they push out from inside boiler and up!  I never had to drill one out.  You are correct with using a Lionel funnel, I had to do the same thing for a Williams Brass Bigboy.  But now that MTH has reissued a BigBoy I think you can get a full smoke assembly with the funnel.  I imagine they may have added some to stock.  G

Not entirely true.  Some were glued in as was the one I upgraded.  This may not have been done at the factory but it is not the only one I have seen.

Oh and good luck getting that unit from MTH LOL.  You can get the funnel from Lionel in 3 days.  It was a perfect fit with some very slight modification to the mount.

Dave

The Williams and Weaver models I've upgraded have all simply pushed out.  I confess to having never had an MTH with the Seuthe smoke, although I just made a deal for one.  However they come out, they will surely be replaced with a fan driven smoke unit.

John,

Thanks for your help the part numbers on that project!

Dave

The Williams, Weavers and MTH I have seen are just pressed in.  Have not run into the glued version yet.  Well you do need to lead with parts from MTH, which is why I keep a selection of smoke unit and brass cups in stock.  The last one I did I used a challenger smoke unit, and I was able to get the whole unit with funnel.   I spent some time browsing the parts documents on the web to create my own smoke unit and motor cheater list.  G

GGG posted:

 I spent some time browsing the parts documents on the web to create my own smoke unit and motor cheater list.  G

Hmm...  Any chance you'd share that list?