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This thread will be dedicated to the conversion of this brass 3rd rail NYC Mohawk.

The Prologue:

I have been real bad at posting the conversions I've done. So much to keep up on. I have had no time to do so. I’m going to try and fix that here.

Anyways! A good customer here on the forums brought me a 3rd Rail Pennsy T1. I converted it to LEGACY for him he was very happy.

Next on his list was a 3rd Rail Mohawk,  I have made positive and extensive progress on the loco. Whistle steam of course. More 3d printed parts. A typical conversion for me. The postings wont be in heavy detail but just enough to understand the extent of a brass conversion to LEGACY.

7B983002-99AC-453D-9A21-E79393DEECEE

362A2C4F-40A2-4205-B879-A8C147919595D1D5C795-32C4-4433-B7E4-300DED182BFC

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  • 7B983002-99AC-453D-9A21-E79393DEECEE
  • 362A2C4F-40A2-4205-B879-A8C147919595
  • D1D5C795-32C4-4433-B7E4-300DED182BFC
Last edited by Bruk
Original Post

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What’s a ballpark figure to convert one?  Would the displayed speed number on the Remote correlate well with other legacy engines?   If I set my engines to the same number they run close to the same speed and trains don’t catch each other.  It’s one of the features I like over tmcc as there is much less speed adjustment to do during a run session.

@Norton posted:

No tach tape with Legacy. You have to find a RCMC for an engine with the same wheel diameter and gear ratio.



Pete

Yep. Like Pete said there is no tach tape. Instead there is a sensor with an encoder ring, which the encoder ring is the same on all locmotives. The difference is the gear ratios programmed into the RCMC. Most common one being 16:1. The gear ratio is what will determine the locmotives similarities at speed steps. I believe this Mohawk has a near 20:1 ratio. Bruk may be able to tell us exactly what it has.

@Norton posted:

I am more curious to see how it will run without its lead weight. I assume that has to go to make room for the added smoke units.

Pete

The RCMC board is going into the engine the lead weight will stay. I had to cut and remove 1/2” of material off the lead weight on motor side for the board to clear the motor. Ill show pictures later of the board mounted in later postings. Its a real tights fit in there.

Lionels DSMK smoke unit will be used so I wont need space for two units.

@Norton posted:

No tach tape with Legacy. You have to find a RCMC for an engine with the same wheel diameter and gear ratio.

The mohawk has a 25:1. Ill be using a board that has 20:1. Lionel does not have anything. That a RCMC board can support. The B6 has a 28:1 but the board does not support whistle steam.

I had success using this same set up on the 3rd Rail T1 I converted. It shifts the beat. But it doesn’t give you a weird chuff rate.

I’m finding wheel size is not an issue with these.

Last edited by Bruk
@Bruk posted:

The mohawk has a 25:1. Ill be using a board that has 20:1. Lionel does not have anything. That a RCMC board can support. The B6 has a 28:1 but the board does not support whistle steam.

I had success using this same set up on the 3rd Rail T1 I converted. It shifts the beat. But it doesn’t give you a weird chuff rate.

I’m finding wheel size is not an issue with these.

Bruk, if may ask, when does the red flags show up?...is there a certain cutoff point where the 20:1 RCMC just isn’t gonna cut it?...so if the Mohawk’s 25:1 works ok with the 20:1 RCMC, I’m just curious based on your experience, does 27, 28, or 29:1 start to get challenging as far as chuffs are concerned, ......I’m just asking, since a lot of brass stuff can have quite an array of gearboxes......sometimes at or above 30:1 .....or can you “get away” with the 20:1 RCMC to save the whistle steam feature??......

Pat

@harmonyards posted:

Bruk, if may ask, when does the red flags show up?...is there a certain cutoff point where the 20:1 RCMC just isn’t gonna cut it?...so if the Mohawk’s 25:1 works ok with the 20:1 RCMC, I’m just curious based on your experience, does 27, 28, or 29:1 start to get challenging as far as chuffs are concerned, ......I’m just asking, since a lot of brass stuff can have quite an array of gearboxes......sometimes at or above 30:1 .....or can you “get away” with the 20:1 RCMC to save the whistle steam feature??......

Pat

Well there is a variety of RCMC gear ratios. There is a 16:1, 20:1, 28:1 and a 36:1. While the RCMC may be an option, the encoder pcb must be able to mount onto the motor and have the flywheel with the encoder ring. If that can't happen, then no go on the RCMC. There of course is the BEMC, but that's a whole different story.

@harmonyards posted:

Bruk, if may ask, when does the red flags show up?...is there a certain cutoff point where the 20:1 RCMC just isn’t gonna cut it?...so if the Mohawk’s 25:1 works ok with the 20:1 RCMC, I’m just curious based on your experience, does 27, 28, or 29:1 start to get challenging as far as chuffs are concerned, ......I’m just asking, since a lot of brass stuff can have quite an array of gearboxes......sometimes at or above 30:1 .....or can you “get away” with the 20:1 RCMC to save the whistle steam feature??......

Pat

If we are talking about whistle steam, I know the 16:1, 20:1, and 36:1 have an RCMC with whistle steam available. 28:1 I do not know.

Bruk needs to buy up all the old  reliable tmcc stuff and upgrade it.

I have half a mind to dump my legacy h10 and replace it with an upgraded tmcc h9 . At least it would have a bullet proof gearbox as well as a Pittman motor to go with it.

I forsee some factory legacy power train failure posts in the future ,with that 4 gear gearbox. I've already had one on its way out.

Last edited by RickO
@RickO posted:

Bruk needs to buy up all the old  reliable tmcc stuff and upgrade it.

I have half a mind to dump my legacy h10 and replace it with an upgraded tmcc h9 . At least it would have a bullet proof gearbox as well as a Pittman motor to go with it.

I forsee some factory legacy power train failure posts in the future ,with that 4 gear gearbox. I've already had one on its way out.

Or see if Bruk or Sid would Legacy a dead MTH H10?.....

Pat

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