Repair Needed-MTH 30-2274-1 MTA R-36 R36 WORLDS FAIR Subway Set PS2 Logos

I had to have a PS2/3 board (KIT) installed with a different power supply and better the speaker.

Yes it can be repaired or upgraded.  I have parts instock.  Email in profile. G

If a BCR was installed, what could have happened?

It's quite common for the PS2 5V boards to fail, they're 20 years old and the design appears to run much closer to the maximum ratings of some of the components.  Add to that the old capacitors drying up, and that ends up resulting in dead boards.

I have the exact same subway train 7 always loved it. Last time I ran it, 3 months ago, all was good. At some point based on all that has been written about tht MTH 5 volt trains eventual demise, what will the repair cost? Parts & labor.

Thanks,

Joe

At least this one can be converted/upgraded and has a PS3 soundset, since an equivalent Worlds fair 7 train PS3 model was subsequently released. My concern is for my 5 volt ps2 NY Yankees subway engine and my MTA NW2 switcher work train. Both were only released in PS2 and there is no new PS3 sound set for them, even when the board fails and i do a Ps2/3 board upgrade.  I contacted MTH previously and asked if they will convert the PS2 soundset for these to PS3 and never received an answer.

Hard to respond with details without the actual product numbers.

Hi John. Thanks for taking the time to respond and look that up so quickly. I had to step away for a work issue and didn’t see your reply asking for model #s.  That one you posted wasn’t available for the work train when I looked and contacted MTH a year or two ago. The other one is the Yankees set (30-4122-1).  That didn’t have a PS3 option as well but maybe, like the work train, it does now.  It is great to see MTH updating these ps 2 only issued sound sets.

update - this subway set still does not appear to have a sound set if the board dies and we need to do an upgrade. Hopefully, mth will take care of this like they did the work train.    https://mthtrains.com/30-4122-1

Is there any way for me to upload the ps2 sound file in the engine now and convert it for PS3 usage? That might be an option.

There's no way to easily use the 5V PS/2 file.  You might be able to the ADPCM application to transplant the sound clips from the existing sound file and put them in a different subway set sound file.  It's a bit tedious, but it probably would work.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

There's no way to easily use the 5V PS/2 file.  You might be able to the ADPCM application to transplant the sound clips from the existing sound file and put them in a different subway set sound file.  It's a bit tedious, but it probably would work.

Bummer.  Sounds like too much work for me. Hopefully, MTH will get around to updating/converting  it like they did the work train.  It’s really important for this set since it has unique, NY Yankees subway series sounds. Otherwise, I wouldn’t really care and just upload the PS3 “D train” sound set (which has a Yankee stadium stop) that MTH has available for one of the other subway models.  

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

It's quite common for the PS2 5V boards to fail, they're 20 years old and the design appears to run much closer to the maximum ratings of some of the components.  Add to that the old capacitors drying up, and that ends up resulting in dead boards.

Electrolytic caps puffed out and blew the bd. We put the best original WF subway sounds back in it.

It's always a crap shoot whether the caps failed first, or the diodes shorted and put AC on the caps to kill them.

Could have been either. Since the 6 old style lamps are parallel to the circuit bd. and not under the roof, I would say heat is generally the root cause with caps. Wonder if using cool LED's would have added to its reliability?

Was very pricy to fix but its my favorite Subway, glad it was repaired. I wouldn't put that $ into any other sets.

Well, usually the car lighting is track powered and not running off the board, so they wouldn't have a significant effect on reliability.

Okay, & I'm sorry to ask again. Please correct me if I'm wrong, since I would think that this repair would be similar in cost to other 5V repairs. What would that TOTAL cost be, parts & labor? I realize that some repairs are more involved than others making them cost more, what would the ball park range be in cost?

I jumped on the MTH band wagon early, when PS2 hit the shelves & I own 10-15 5V engines, so an idea of what I can expect in the future would be appreciated. I apologize for being so persistent but I'm sure this "BALL PARK" price would be helpful to other forum members.

Thank you,

Joe

It would likely be in the $200-250 ballpark.  However, some 5V engines require rework of the harnesses and/or special mounting of the PS32 boards to fit, that would likely change the pricing.

Thank you John!

MTH no longer has service department and never really did upgrade.  Just repairs.  Johns cost is low if it really is done for that cost.

PS-32 repair board MSRP was $230, Speaker $10-15 depending on which one, and Hardware Kit $8.   Now add labor.

A PS-3 diesel kit if you go that route is $200 plus shipping, then add the conversion labor.

Many tech may discount parts, I do, but things have gotton tighter now with the MTH changes.  Let alone normal inflation.  G

Based on the repair estimates above, it sounds like a typical Railking RS3 diesel, which retails around $350 is not worth repairing.

@ironman1 posted:

Based on the repair estimates above, it sounds like a typical Railking RS3 diesel, which retails around $350 is not worth repairing.

Yes. Unless it is special to you (unique road name, signage, paint scheme, etc), you are correct for the Rs3s, RS1s, and other cheaper switchers being pumped out by mth, particularly if one of these reissues is the exact same road name.  I have a 5v GP38-2 that is one of the first 5v ps2s and it just keeps on running despite severe abuse and mileage. However, when she dies, I’m either going to see if I can buy a cheap, used PS2 3 volt (they often appear on the bay with broken shells for well under half the price of an electronic upgrade) or ps 3 engine and repurpose the electronics, or I’m going to convert it to a cheaper blue rail/tmcc electronics package. However, for my ps2 5 volt Subway trains, I’ll pay the going rate for a 3/2 or ps 3 upgrade. They mean that much to me, the subway effects are irreplaceable, and the prices for the engines on the open market comfortably exceed this cost. That is our math, Joe.

@ironman1 posted:

Based on the repair estimates above, it sounds like a typical Railking RS3 diesel, which retails around $350 is not worth repairing.

You're right, especially if you're paying someone else to repair it.  Of course, there's no certainty that the replacement will last as long as a repair...