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can anyone suggest the correct upgrade needed to add cruise to this older TMCC unit? would it be an ERR cruise M? I have never opened one of these up....I know the cruise M is basically the driver board, but is it a direct swap in these earlier units? Also, while Im at it, what would upgrade the smoke unit to chuff? Im thinking John's super chuffer II? but will that require the chuff generator? I did check the search results and came up empty handed.....thanks!

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The CC-M is a drop-in replacement for this locomotive, you just add one wire to bring the serial data over to the CC-M.

The Super-Chuffer II is what you need for chuffing smoke and smoke at idle. In addition, it will support Rule-17 lighting and automatic cab light control. If you want 4-chuffs/rev, the Chuff-Generator will also be required. However, if you're happy with the existing chuff switch, you can stick with that.

For these steamers, I also usually recommend a "tune-up" of the smoke unit, new wick, and replace the 27 ohm resistor with a 20 ohm 2W wirewound resistor.

thanks guys!....Im gonna get the chuff generator too. John, Id like to have the 4 chuffs per rev...I reckon with a 20 ohm, the cruise M and 4 chuffs, the effect would be pretty dramatic?? maybe so?? I got a really descent deal on this so I aint scared to throw some $$ at it to really enjoy it...as it sits, its fairly mundane compared to the later locos I have...and the constant smoke is....lets say, not up to today's standard...

john, can I pick your brain one more time on this loco?? A buddy of mine ...and you know him too..(Sean Ford) has all the Odessy parts that he took out of his scale J that took a dump on him mechanically...would that conversion be bad to do?? I only have one ERR CM left...shame on me for not stocking up...its just an option on the table at this point, if you think it would be a PITA swap, Ill just burn up my last ERR parts stash....god only knows when we will see more......

Odyssey requires a tach sensor. If the J motor with the sensor is good then the worm has to be the same as your A. If the gears are different then you have pull the flywheels on both motors and put the J sensor and flywheel on the A motor.

Very difficult to do and not bend a shaft. If the gears do match then its an easy swap.

Pete 

I'd forget about Odyssey and do the ERR upgrade.  There will be ERR stuff very soon from Scott at 3rd Rail, so there's no reason to go with the inferior and more troublesome upgrade.

Pete, the easier way to do that swap would be to buy the Odyssey "fix-it" flywheel, magnet ring, and Odyssey sensor board.  Then pull the old flywheel off, install the Odyssey sensor board, and reinstall the new fix-it flywheel and magnet ring, they have setscrews.

thanks John and Pete....I'll just stick with the ERR stuff, I have a few locos with the M, and they are proven performers and simple swaps...I was just hoping to hang on to the last CM I have for that Williams Niagara that Pete helped me out on another thread....then I went and bought this A!!!...looks like the Niagara will remain conventional until Scott can get ERR stuff back on line....Scott is good people....I can be patient....I don't anticipate a real estate issue with the super chuffer and generator in that almost foot long tube of a boiler!..

The more I think about it, I would first try to use the J Odyssey stuff. All you should have to do is swap the motor along with its sensor and the DCDS board. Maybe a 20 minute job. You could still use GRJ's circuits for 4 chuffs and improved features. Save yourself a 100 bucks on Cruise board for when a simple swap like this is not possible.

Pete

Norton posted:

Some N&W A's came with a pair of Mabuchis. Harmon's has a Pittman.

Pete

A pair of Mabuchi's? Well, that's surprising. I had no idea.

I'll have to look at mine; that old bear hasn't seen a layout in years. Now, where did I leave that 2-6-6-4...?

Of course, if I run it now, I'm going to want cruise...

D500 posted:
Norton posted:

Some N&W A's came with a pair of Mabuchis. Harmon's has a Pittman.

Pete

A pair of Mabuchi's? Well, that's surprising. I had no idea.

I'll have to look at mine; that old bear hasn't seen a layout in years. Now, where did I leave that 2-6-6-4...?

Of course, if I run it now, I'm going to want cruise...

Maybe the LionChief (sic?) version has two motors, one over each power truck, but the scale engine only has one.

Norton posted:

The more I think about it, I would first try to use the J Odyssey stuff. All you should have to do is swap the motor along with its sensor and the DCDS board. Maybe a 20 minute job. You could still use GRJ's circuits for 4 chuffs and improved features. Save yourself a 100 bucks on Cruise board for when a simple swap like this is not possible.

Pete

Im thinking Im gonna tackle this job on Saturday after the NMRA show in Va, Beach, I think Sean Is going with us ( neither one of us could make York this year) I'll have him bring his parts over and we will compare and I will let Yall know how it goes....either the way, the d***ed thing is getting cruise this weekend, then Ill order the parts from John for the smoke upgrade...thanks guys!

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