MTH B&A J-2c Hudson LEGACY Conversion (FINAL VIDEO).

Bruk, it'll be interesting to see how this goes.  I wonder if you'll have a problem with the gear ratio matching the speed to other Legacy locomotives?  After my Challenger, this should be a breeze.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

Bruk, it'll be interesting to see how this goes.  I wonder if you'll have a problem with the gear ratio matching the speed to other Legacy locomotives?  After my Challenger, this should be a breeze.

Wonder who’s engine this is.  Speed matching is not a concern, I’ll never lash this up with any other engine.  If this project is a success which I’m sure it will be, I have two more to convert.

Great photos!  I assume that you can therefore buy Lionel Legacy decoders and retrofit like you are doing here?  From what I have been reading the new Legacy system is supposed to be NMRA compliant but earlier systems were not.  Is yours an NMRA compliant Legacy system?

@Robbin posted:

Great photos!  I assume that you can therefore buy Lionel Legacy decoders and retrofit like you are doing here?  From what I have been reading the new Legacy system is supposed to be NMRA compliant but earlier systems were not.  Is yours an NMRA compliant Legacy system?

When I wire these up I try to follow NMRA color requirements. These are the last generation of LEGACY boards. 2020-now will be the new gen.

Now we get to figure out the wiring for the new generation of Legacy boards as well as the new LC+ 2.0 boards!   It never ends!

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

Bruk, it'll be interesting to see how this goes.  I wonder if you'll have a problem with the gear ratio matching the speed to other Legacy locomotives?  After my Challenger, this should be a breeze.

Ratio is 16:1 on this guy. Using a hudson board that has the same ratio. I did an Atlas GP9 recently. My guy said it runs flawless with other Lionel diesels because it matches the ratio’s (10:1) 

Bruk, that's fortunate, and it'll also be nice that the speeds are correct if you happen to want to run it with other Legacy.

Progress report on the engine:

• Installed encoder PCB and new flywheel.
• Found that the original flywheel I was going to use didn’t fit in the shell.
• I pulled another flywheel off a personal project that fits perfectly.
• I made a bracket for the RCMC and repurposed the MUX bracket to mount in the shell.
• Installed Flickering Fire box PCB to the motor.
• Installed program/run switch.
• Wired and gave it a initial test

Moving right along, is Gary going to get it next week?

How bout that! 4 chuffs on the first try

Precisely why I contribute my measley $1 a month to this forum.

Between Bruk, John, Alex, Pat, Lou, Pete, Sid....I'm sure I'm missing somebody, probably several. There is simply no reason anyone should  have to shelve a "modern locomotive" due to electronics failure or whatever. At least, until the means to rebuild/upgrade runs dry.

Its good to know there are expert techs an email away should a problem or "want" arise.

@RickO posted:

How bout that! 4 chuffs on the first try

Precisely why I contribute my measley $1 a month to this forum.

Between Bruk, John, Alex, Pat, Lou, Pete....I'm sure I'm missing somebody, probably several. There is simply no reason anyone should  have to shelve a "modern locomotive" due to electronics failure or whatever. At least, until the means to rebuild/upgrade runs dry.

Its good to know there are expert techs an email away should a problem or "want" arise.

Just the craftsmanship of how things come together is astonishing. Gotta love it.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

Moving right along, is Gary going to get it next week?

If I had the high temp 3d printed parts 😋

I guess that would slow things down.

I’m in no rush, I’d rather have done right over done fast.  I am looking forward to the completed video though.

So I'm assuming Legacy uses 12V Canon motors and not 15V? I know that MTH Pittman in the J-2C is a 12V motor. The PS3 steam kits I've installed don't seem to care if the motor is a 12V  or 15V motor.

I'll be picking up a Legacy ATSF 3751 class Northern (from the 2019 run) shortly and I want to swap out the Canon for one of the ball bearing/rare earth magnet 9000 series Pittmans I've been using in my recent PS3 builds. They are 12V motors, and I'd like to make sure the electronics will be fine with them.

Yes I know I'll void the **** out of the warranty but that's hot rodding 😉.

@Lou1985 posted:

So I'm assuming Legacy uses 12V Canon motors and not 15V? I know that MTH Pittman in the J-2C is a 12V motor. The PS3 steam kits I've installed don't seem to care if the motor is a 12V  or 15V motor.

I'll be picking up a Legacy ATSF 3751 class Northern (from the 2019 run) shortly and I want to swap out the Canon for one of the ball bearing/rare earth magnet 9000 series Pittmans I've been using in my recent PS3 builds. They are 12V motors, and I'd like to make sure the electronics will be fine with them.

Yes I know I'll void the **** out of the warranty but that's hot rodding 😉.

Not to start a debate. It should be just fine. 99% of these boards I use come from models that have canon motors. I have had no issues or complaints.

@Bruk posted:

Not to start a debate. It should be just fine. 99% of these boards I use come from models that have canon motors. I have had no issues or complaints.

Just wondering if the Legacy boards have to have a 12V or 15V motor or not. If they don't care (like PS3) then I can go with whichever one I have handy.

I'm virtually certain that the exact voltage specification between 12V and 15V shouldn't make a significant difference.  By the time you get 12 volts on the motor, you're flying down the track!  The RCMC isn't checking the motor label, it's just feeding the motor power based on the throttle setting and tach feedback.