PS2 Conversion Kits

If you're a member of the MTH club, go to the Club site.  MTH is trying to sell out the current stock before releasing the PS3 upgrade kits.  Unfortunately, they have not reduced the price.

The club site still doesn't have a direct order, so I'd just call Kristi and order direct.

Thanks guys for your input.  I thought something had changed as I had ordered conversion kits from the club site before.

I went to the MTH site and clicked on the club link, when I got there all you could do is enter their drawing and buy a few specials.  I didn't see anything that allowed me to order the kits.

John,

I went to the protosound2.com page and hit the PS2 Upgrades tab and then the Buy an Upgrade tab.  Then you get a "This Connection was Interrupted" page.  Rest of the site works fine.  Going to make a phone call and see if any are left in stock.  If not, I'll wait for the PS3 kits.  Not much else one can do right now.

Just got off the phone with Regina.  She answers the phone if you opt for the MTHRRC (number #4) option on the phone.  Have ordered the PS2 Steam Kit for a Hudson I recently purchased.  Regina implied there were still many kits available.  Guess for now MTH wants to handle conversion kit orders on the phone.

I called Kristi at the MTHRRC and ordered from her, that's what I've done on all the previous orders.  I'm laying in a few as the PS3 kit will surely be higher priced, the boards are all higher priced from parts.

I have tried to order kits from their website for over a year with no luck. However they seem to be plentiful at their York booth. I guess they little interest in internet commerce.

Pete

Just call, you can get them that way.  The new site is still "coming soon".

Norton, call 410-381-2580, select option 4 (MTHRRC) and one of many people at that extension will take your order.  Did it just a few hours ago.

I just ordered one also.  I had picked up 2 at York, but want to have enough to upgrade my 5-volt locos as they fail, or sooner.

I have all my MTH steam converted except the Hudson.  All were PS1 engines and worthy of conversion instead of spending what a new reissue costs in PS2 or PS3.

As my diesels fail, they will be converted to ERR Cruise Commander or the new Cruise Commander Lite depending on the diesels duty.  Yard switchers will get CC Lite, Road diesels the full blown CC.

If you want sound, the ERR stuff will be as expensive as the PS/2 kits.

I converted all my old diesels to PS2 also, including the old Weavers from 1990 & earlier which run superbly.  Given their low dollar value, their high quality compared to modern Chinese products, and what a new equivalent would cost, I think the effort was worth it.

As a challenge, I also converted two 60+ year old Lionel Pulmor-powered locos; running is much improved.

Bob, thanks for the number but I am set for a while? i picked up a few more at York. At the club price and saving shipping its the best bang for the buck for Command Upgrades. I was hoping PS3 would be smaller but its not so PS2 will be fine. Where space is at a premium I will use Cruise Lites or Mini Commanders.

Pete

Pete, as I've said elsewhere, if space is at a premium, use smaller 2.4-volt NiMH battery packs.  They're readily available on internet.

Or use something even smaller than the AAA packs.

I saw those mini battery packs at the BCR booth. I will have pick up a few. 

Pete

One of my MTH PS-2 upgrade kits contained this miniature 3v (2.4v) battery.

Mini picture below standard battery.

Ron

Can non MTH members buy upgrade kits?

Bob, anyone can buy upgrade kits.  Persons who are members of the MTH RR Club, get something like $15 off the price.

Its actually closer to 30 bucks. $179.95 vs $150. Don't expect an instant discount though. I think it took about three months to get my club membership card after applying for it and you need your club ID number to get the discount.

Pete

I hadn't checked the prices, Norton, but given that membership also includes a car, the club dues is worth it even if one only wants to buy one upgrade kit.  I expect one could join the club and get the club price on a kit, by calling MTH and using a credit card.  Call the MTH number and select 4 to reach the Club, join, and place an order.

Do you have any additional info on what you went through to replace the pull-mor motors?  I have a couple of these that I basically never run but have thought about giving new life to..

JHZ, I converted two old LIonels, a 1950 #736 Berkshire and a 1953 #624 C&O diesel.  The ability to ruiin slow brought out a mechanical problem in the Berkshire, and I am rebuilding the running gear (wheel bushings, gear).  The #624 runs well, not as well as modern MTH, of course, given that the MTH gearing is better.

For both, I replaced the Lionel motors with can motors obtained from Frank Timko.  His prices are reasonable and are direct slip-in replacements.

For the #624, I did a complete gut.  I took pictures throughout the process, and if I ever get a few hours free, I plan to post them on the forum with a narrative.  For the 736, I removed the smoke unit, and did not replace because I don't like to inhale.

One critical issue is the couplers.  The MTH couplers cannot easily be added to the Lionel units.  And DO NOT connect the Lionel couplers to the upgrade boards or you will blow the board immediately, because the Lionel couplers are grounded to the frame.  The solution I used is to have the board uncoupler circuit trigger a relay.  For the 624, I have both couplers trigger when I press the rear uncouple button, to save the need for another relay.  On the 736, but not the 624, for some reason firing the coupler would cause the loco to shut down.  I concluded that there was a spark at the relay points, and added a .02 ceramic disc capacitor across the points, which solved the problem.

My suggestion is that, unless the locos have sentimental value (as did mine) or you really want to run them under DCS, or you just like to tinker, the conversion is not economically justified.  I also have a 1946 #726, which is a real dog as a runner, and I have no intention tackle it.

For the #624, I had to obtain from a audio source a smaller speaker, which I mounted underneath, and used the 2/3AA battery pack depicted above.

At York in April, an MTH offficial told me they are planning an upgrade kit for locos that don't have flywheels, but I've heard nothing sense.  These would work on old Lionel with transverse-mounted motors; while I have a few, I don't think I'd do those.

The club price is better than the price you can get on the kits through distribution, it's as good as it gets for these upgrades.  It didn't take me long to get a club number, and I'll bet if you talk to Kristi at MTH you could join and order the kit on the same phone call.

RJR - thanks for the info!  I'm on the road for my fall busy season (overtime $ = hobby $) but I am looking to getting some tinkering done over the winter!

When you join the MTHRRC. the cost is $25 if you don't get the car.  When you order your first conversion kit, the money saved has payed for your membership.  A worthwhile in vestment indeed. 

John,

You mentioned earlier that an ERR conversion with sound would be about the same cost as a PS2 conversion.  I agree that it would.  My main reason for purchasing ERR over PS2 would be mostly for installation ease, for sound and for consistency.  Most of my diesel power is TMCC.  A majority of the remaining diesels that are not TMCC are PS2 5 volt.  These are the diesels I will convert to ERR Cruise as they fail.  With regard to sound, that will get added at some point later.  My primary function will be to get the engine back on line first.

Another reason I prefer ERR in my diesels is the sound.  I agree, that sometimes locating the speaker may be difficult, but the RailSounds is superior to PS2 sound IMHO.  I wish ERR had a larger sound set assortment, but maybe someday they will.

All I have mentioned above is my personal choice.  Everyone has their own personal preference.  This just happens to be mine for now.  I do keep an open mind though as something better may be just down the tracks a bit.

Well, for TMCC, I'd pick up a few of the Cruise Commander Lite kits while they're at the introductory price.  You're never going to get cruise control for less than $50 again, at least not anytime soon.

You're right about the CC Lite price.  They must be on back order as I ordered mine about two weeks ago and I still haven't seen them or received a shipping notice yet.  I imagine at $50, there has been a run on them.  Will probably order a few more before year's end.

I believe the MSRP is going to be $99, so the current price is certainly a nice savings.

John,

One other question.  Do you have any idea where I could obtain plug and sockets like Weaver uses to connect the engine and electronics in the tender?  I need some of these to complete conversions where I put the electronics in the tender and there wasn't a means of connecting the engine to the tender.  I have looked without success and thought you may have come across such components.

Bob

I use MTH PS2 tethers.

Will the ps-3 kits be easier to install? I don't see the advantage of installing ps-3, except that the battery will not be needed. Will ps-3 be compatible with ps-2? What would be nice if Lionel would come out with Legacy upgrade kits, but i don't think that will happen.

Will the ps-3 kits be easier to install?

Possibly, since there's no need for a battery or charging port.

I don't see the advantage of installing ps-3, except that the battery will not be needed.

PS3 is superior to PS2 in several ways: better signal strength, no battery, and LED lighting.

The lack of a battery alone negates several potential operating problems.

 Will ps-3 be compatible with ps-2

100%

Thanks Barry, i have at least 9 ps-1 steam locomotives that i want to convert .

Feet, two surmountable issues you'll face is that you may have to enlarge the hole ion the loco shell that holds the teher (I don't know if PS3 upgrade kits will use a wireless drawbar or a tether.  The other issue is how to handle the smoke unit.  The instructions in the PS2 upgrade kit manual did not cover all the variations in smoke units; my Challenger's smoke unit needed rewiring not covered in the manual. 

Robert,

I don't know if PS3 upgrade kits will use a wireless drawbar or a tether.

They will use a tether, not a wireless drawbar.