If you think you need to do this as a business model, I think your on the wrong path because it will not be time and cost effective.
Very true words. I guess figuring out how things work and “hacking” are part of my DNA. As an end goal, I would love to produce a PS1 and PS2 clone to help all of the end users out there who have no options. This of course is many years down the road. As a side note, I do have a certificate hanging in my office titled “Certified Ethical Hacker”.
This is actually a side, side business for me. I’m 42 years old and already have a full-time, 40 hour a week, engineering job working for the Army. I’m also married and have three boys aged 6, 7, and 11. Needless to say, I have a busy life. My engineering job deals with software but is quality related and is far removed from anything I’ve learned while repairing trains.
This started about 4 years ago when my father-in-law brought me a Lionel basic E-Unit to fix. I eventually fixed that one and three more showed up. Then another five. He, Wes Leonard, and his father, Sherman Leonard, have run a successful train repair business from the Nashville, Tennessee area since the 1970’s. Sherman has since retired and Wes now runs the business, Parts with Character, from Northern Alabama (where I also live). I joined the business about a year after that initial fix. He does the majority of the repairs, mainly Lionel prewar, postwar and into the MPC era. Anything with a circuit board that he can’t fix comes to me. Since then I have also completed the MTH ASC training. I intentionally don’t have a high volume of repairs due to all of the other areas of my life.
One of my short term goals is to find a second source or create my own PS1 and PS2 tender harnesses. I have all of the knowledge except for the covering over the plug. My guess is they are overmolded with custom made molds. Another possibility is an OEM or aftermarket cover kit that is no longer available. Any suggestions or information is welcome.
