@GGG posted:This is PS-3 BB correct? John's picture is PS-2 3V and not correct for PS-3. No polarity switch. The Engine Right side wheels pick up via spring plungers. The Left Side are chassis ground. Only right side wheels and center pickup go to the 6 pin drawbar to send power to tender. The left side of engine can only make connection via the wire pin along the drawbar.
Tender wheels have to provide ground through the axle wiper, friction contact of truck and switch.
If you have a non 3R-2R engine and it runs fine on layout, I would go into engine and connect the engine right side wire to chassis ground. Now Engine both side wheels and the center pickup have AC track power via drawbar to the tender. Now you have better continuity of power for the enigne for 3R. Easy to reverse if you want to run 2R at a later date or sell engine. G
GGG yes it is ps3 the latest MTH restoration big boy in glossy paint. It wont run at all if the firemann/conductor side outer rail is not connected to ground via z4000/TIU.( DCS wont find the loco). I don't believe it is up to me to go into this loco and void the warranty. Rich at MTH reached out to me in an email but I have not heard back from him in a few days. Not sure where I am at with this. When I do get it to run it will not pull worth a s.....! I am comparing this new p3 loco to my p2 big boy. My p2 will walk up my grades at 5 SMPH with 7 Lionel 21" cars and a heavy diecast tender. This new p3 will barely if at all make it up the grade at 5MPH with only the diecast tender. So there are more issues with this loco. Hopefully MTH gets back to me. Looking like it will go back to my dealer probably for a refund. Not happy I waited over a year and find myself out of luck. This is why I don't care for built to order.
