ps3 upgrade question

Barry,

You don't need to convert the wired tether to a wireless drawbar in order to move everything else from the donor engine to the recipient. You can, if you so desire, however, it's not necessary.

How hard would it be to just move the wireless drawbar to the new engine? I haven't actually gotten the chance to look at one, so I really didn't know what might be involved with the wireless tether. Thanks for the reply.

Barry

Barry,

I suppose that it's doable, however, I expect that it would depend on the specific engine. If it were me, I wouldn't bother doing it. The only gain would be purely cosmetic.

I think the mechanical issues trying to move the drawbar would far exceed any payback.  Just go with a wired tether, you'll be much happier!

Thanks for the replies. I bought a railking engine with ps3, but I haven't received it yet. I'll probably go with a tether.

Barry

I would sell the RK engine and come close to the cost of an upgrade kit.  

I agree with Marty.  Thru MTHRRC, an upgrade kit costs less than most R-K PS3 locos.

But a steam upgrade kit doesn't contain the same hardware as a factory equipped PS3 steam loco.

Best thing about swapping is you get the boiler board which controls all lights, smoke, motor etc. and only need a 6 wire tether. Tender board & boiler board installs have a lot going for it compared to 1 board mounted in tender. Using a upgrade kit I could count needing up to a 17 wire tether to operate motor, smoke, power, tach, markers, headlight, interior, coupler etc. Could of course use those cheezy mux boards to solve part of the problem (and hassle of mounting them) along with cv lighting board but then lose some lighting functions which could be overcome by using relays but then why??

MTH needs to sell PS3 steam upgrade kits that use a set of steam boards with a 6 wire tether instead of supplying a diesel board...I mean really c'mon man just how hard would it be?? I think it would make installs a lot easier...tender board with wiring harnesses and boiler board with wiring harnesses...duh!

I will have about the price of a kit in this engine, and since I would also have the smoke unit, which doesn't come in a kit, I thought it might be the way to go. I've done this several times with ps-2'S, but hadn't tried it with a ps3. I didn't know how hard it would be to eliminate the wireless drawbar.

Barry

I've recently taken my mint MTH PS1 SF AA F3/7 and gutted it.  I replaced the electronics with parts from two MIB RK PS3's.  I'm not a MTH Tech, but learned a lot along the way.  Fun experience, and worth it to me, as long as you assume your time/labor is free.  If you think your time is worth more than $10/hr, Marty's probably right - may not be worth it unless you have done hundreds of these and know exactly what to do and have spare parts available.  Even simple things like not having taps for micro - metric threads and assortments of wrong screw lengths/sizes can slow/stop you.  

Things I learned - the RK PS3, while the same PS3 electronics board, doesn't have all the 40pin PS3 connector sockets populated in the header.  You might need to learn how to move pins or build wires to get features you want.  I wanted MARS light, but no pin in that socket.  Didn't need rear headlight, so "borrowed" the socket/wire from that pin and had to move it to the MARS light pin.  Then you need to find a new chain file for engine that activates the MARS light.  Do-able, but takes time.  Not necessarily as plug-and-play as a kit, but cheaper.

SF PS1 didn't have smoke unit, but it was possible with some fabrication, to adapt the RK smoke unit accessories to the interior of the F3/7, and get it to smoke.  Not as nice as factory installed, but does now smoke.

I'll disagree on the kit price comment above.  $200 or $175, or whatever the current PS3/2 kit price is, was in my case, much more expensive than the MIB RK PS3 donor diesels I bought.  Plus I have the leftover trucks, shells, couplers, motors, and other parts that can be sold to recoup most, if not all, of the price of the donor diesels.  The PS3 board can become essentially "free" if you are willing to invest the time.  But IMO that's Marty's point - if your time is $$$, use it wisely.

Where do you find PS/3 diesels for a lot less than the price of a PS/3 upgrade kit?  I want a dozen!

gunrunnerjohn posted:

Where do you find PS/3 diesels for a lot less than the price of a PS/3 upgrade kit?  I want a dozen!

There's a few of them around every now and then, you just have to watch for them.

Barry

Moving wireless is all mechanical as John stated.  Depending on model, you could have real significant issue doing it especially on the engine side.  It needs to swivel.  G

I am a big fan of the  board used in the upgrade kit.  I always like to use what works best.  Not that anyone cares about my opinion but I would still go with the kit.

Marty,

Not that anyone cares about my opinion

I care!  

Marty, I believe there are many, many folks here on the forum that value your opinions.

rtr12 posted:

Marty, I believe there are many, many folks here on the forum that value your opinions.

WOW,  I did not think anyone cared.  Thanks guys.

Come on Marty, you are still the boss!

We just figure you're busy so others try and help.

MTH goes to U for answers and tests. That should say it all.

I read most of your post and I care as well.

Marty,  I wasn't trying to imply I didn't value your opinion. I rely on you, GRJ, and GGG regularly.