hi to everyone on the forum.
today i have a tech question, regarding older un-modified 1950's, 60's, 70's, MARKLIN locomotives running on M-Track
until recently, all my locomotives were running off the old style MARKLIN AC transformers...on M-TRACK.
Have seen a few youtube videos, and read on a forum, that these older locomotives run well on DC voltage.
and have now tested this, yes they run very well on DC..I use a regulated DC power supply,,
a few of my older locomotives are going to need new motors, the field coils are black. armatures are used up
in many forums including this Marlin one, there are discussions and techniques to 'upgrade motors / loks to digital
one can purchase a kit ( like example 60941, 60943, 60944, 60670), swap our certain pieces, and voila, a smoother running machine

my questions-obervations are as follows, any help would be appreciated
in these kits, we would get a permanent magnet, nice, no more wound coil magnet
get a new 5 pole armature motor, ..a new motor end plate, new brushes
and some of these kits come with a 'digital board'
i would like to run these converted loks on DC / 3 rail M-Track only, not interested in any digital aspects,
can we install just the magnet, motor, and plate, and expect these to run, ?
guessing the digital board also helps with 'reversing? not concerned, this can be done with external switching relay,

the loks i wish to modify, are model 3054, 3366, SK800, TM800, RM800, 3011,
my trains currently operate through a Phoenix contact programmable PLC unit..that uses relay outputs to make time based, event based, route decisions
this PLC can manage both AC and DC at the same time
some loks will remain AC and others will be converted to DC
can the motor, magnet, endplate be ordered seperately, skip the digital board aspect ?
thanks to everyone in advance,

Hello Gord,

I would feel the answer is yes to the question in the box above. (The rest depends on if the loco can be fitted with one of the 5 pole kits and also your programmable unit)

When I convert an old analogue loco to digital control, on my bench after dismantling the loco I first usually upgrade the motor to 5 pole with the permanent magnet type kits you describe. After I have installed the new motor I test this using a 9 volt DC battery across the motor terminals.

As you say, you are left with the issue of reversing which I expect could be overcome by a "2 rail DC" type controller.

Have fun,

PJ

Hi Mark! I've been searching through here to try to find how to get my 2983 Delta set working here in Canada. It's from Belgium originally. Saw your post and wondered if you still had any controllers and if one of them would help me out. Looking forward to hearing from you ;)

Mike meant to write 6646 which is the ref. number for the 120 V transformer.

I can highly recommend Euro Rail Hobbies in Summerland.

Walter Menzel has given me the very best service for many years and is great to deal with.