How difficult is it to power a dummy MTH locomotive?

Might be hard with out swapping blocks.  The internal axle gear is no there or the side idle gears.  Plus motor and motor mount.

If the side frames mount the same as the equivalent MTH powered truck, you can order the 2 power trucks and turn in you non powered trucks.  That will run $25-30 ea truck.  Then add motors and mounts at about another $30 or so per truck.  So your easily at $120.

I would try to find a used powered version with a dead board.  IF side frames swap, that would be easiest and cheapest approach.   G

Yeap. Just like he said!

I did it before and one other thing. The trucks from a different model have plates that can be reversed for the application. Some mount differently. I think you'd need to stick with newer premier models though, if it's a newer premier. They have changed over the years.

 I haven't done them all! just the one so far. I powered an AC6000 dummy from guts of  I had of a duplicate SD70ACe.

I had purchased a dummy GP35 , and then had second thought about it, so I decided to convert it to being opwered.  I bought a PS1 GP30 for the trucks and motors, and used a PS2 upgrade kit for the electronics.  Seemed simple at first.

Then the I discovered a problem.  MTH reversed the pivot point on one of the trucks on the GP35 versus the GP30.  So I had to remove the wheels and gears on the powered truck and the dummy truck and swap the parts.  It is not easy removing the wheels from the axles.

But I got it done, and now I have a powered GP35 for probably as much, if not more, money than a factory powered one, and with much more aggravation.

Stuart

I've seen several up grades done using a matching powered frame, switching covers.

Then I got a "Williams" E7 powered and dummy set, that I bought a kit/set, off the ebay that's made/was by Williams, that has a pair of powered trucks and a conventional eboard, but of course you wouldn't use that, if going to PS2/3 or TMCC. This one appears to be bolt in/bolt out.

If I were you, and not in a big hurry keep watching this forum, as well as, ebay under trucks/couplers, as that's where I've seen the powered up truck kits offered, or better yet, just find another powered locomotive like yours, and swap the covers if road names differ!........................Brandy!

That's what I was trying to describe. On the trucks I had, the plate was reversable  to allow the different pivot point. I imagine that happened at a certain year?

So if I'm understanding everyone correctly, I could find a set of MTH powered truck blocks and replace them in the dummy frame and use my collection of parts to make the conversion. 

Another thought is that I may rob parts off an Atlas GP15 to do the job too.  I was contemplating selling it anyway.  It would make a good donor and I could use the Atlas trucks, boards and TMCC. 

Thanks for all the input! 

Jonathan,

Not the same thing as you have but...I had a dummy Atlas GP9 and powered it using the motors and motor support out of a MTH Railking F3.  I still had to get the power transfer gear assembly Atlas P/N 687076.  The good thing was the MTH motor and worm gear(?) fit right in the Atlas GP9.  Don't know if the reverse would be true but it seems like it would.

Just make sure you install all the stuff needed to isolate things that need it.

If I was you, I would just buy another power unit and sell your non-powered unit here on the forum.

Voice of experience from a "basher": jim sutter, above, is probably correct - "simply" get another loco and sell (or keep) the dummy. 

Sometimes saving money can cost you a fortune, and the aggravation is usually a real

treat.

I'm not afraid of a project.  However, if I could find a suitable F40PH powered with scale trucks I would go that route.  I picked up the dummy because you don't see a lot of the newer MTH F40PHs come up for sale often and the K-Line versions rarely appear at all.  I've been looking nearly every day for several years.  The Proto-1 version lacks the detail I am looking for and if I'm correct the scale truck versions didn't come out until 2010?

Truth be told, I'm really looking for a well priced K-line one in a scheme other than Amtrak to repaint to VIA to mate with my current custom painted K-Line one.  There is an Amtrak on that "auction site" sitting at $395, but they retailed for $380.00 new.  I'm looking to find one in Caltrans, Tri-Rail or CSX for a repaint. 

Again, thanks for all the wisdom.  Perhaps I was too quick to pick up this unit in a quest to find additional power required to pull my GGD Canadian.