I have a Polar Express Burk that I bought new when they came out. I use it not only at christmas for the tree train but year round on my layout. I have not run it for a few months. the last time I went to use it, it ran real slow like it was bound up or dirty. last night I cleaned the wheels, though they were not dirty and lubed the motor with wd-40. I started running it again and it still ran real slow. then the circut board started to smoke and the four "thingies" on the upper left of the board fried.I need to find out what they are and how to replace them. Can I get them at radio shack or do I have to go through Lionel? Also is that the cause of the slow running? What would have caused them to fail?
Without more information, I can only guess from the fact that there are four "thingies" that they are a bridge rectifier. It's therefore likely that the real problem is somewhere else on the circuit card or in the locomotive. Replacements will likely fail too.
Bob Nelson
Off the top it sounds to me as if you've got a short somewhere. I'm guessing that a circuit board replacement may be necessary. Unless you have an authorized service station nearby I think a call or an e-mail to Lionel customer service may be in order. Keep in mind that they are finishing up moving their facility and try to have patience.
IMPORTANT: WD-40 is not an adequate lubricant! It's best use is as a cleaner/degreaser or as a penetrant to loosen stubborn nuts and bolts. It belongs in a plumber's toolbox, not a model locomotive. Check with your hobby shop for more suitable lubricants, or if worse comes to worst in a pinch you can use sewing machine oil. Remember, when it comes to model engine lubrication a little goes a long way. Don't overlubricate!
Pete
"You can’t study the darkness by flooding it with light." - Edward Abbey -
Sounds like you smoked the Electronic E-Unit. The part # for the original E-unit is 600-0103-001. For the up-dated and replacement E-unit, the # is 610-0107-100.
Bill
Factory Trained Lionel Service Tech.
Texas PeteIMPORTANT: WD-40 is not an adequate lubricant! It's best use is as a cleaner/degreaser or as a penetrant to loosen stubborn nuts and bolts. It belongs in a plumber's toolbox, not a model locomotive. Pete
IMPORTANT: WD-40 is not an adequate lubricant! It's best use is as a cleaner/degreaser or as a penetrant to loosen stubborn nuts and bolts. It belongs in a plumber's toolbox, not a model locomotive.
AMEN!!!!! You would not believe how many engines come in drenched in WD-40. Hard mess to clean up. Its not real precise dispensing so it gets where it shouldn't !!!!
Where can I get a new one? Would it be cheaper to replace the entire board? I looked and it seems like something I can handle myself if I can get the parts.
Point taken on the WD-40!
WD40 is VERY Flammable, not a good item to use around a smoke unit or a sparking derailment.
I would just replace the board. Not that much $, and quick to do.
"IT's GOOD TO BE THE KING",by Mel Brooks
Charter Member- Tardis Train Crew (TTC) - Detroit3railers- Detroit Historical society Glancy Modular trains- Charter member BTTS
Now that I know the part numbers, I am trying to locate the part with no luck...HELP!
Call Jeff At the Train Tender. 585-229-2050 he shows them in stock. He is a great person to deal with.
Just got off the phone with Jeff...What an easy and pleasant experience! He had the part and it is on its way to me! Even talked me through testing the motor to see if it was still good. I would do business again with him in a heartbeat! Thank-you to everybody for taking the time to help me out! And a special thankyou to Bill for introducing Jeff to me!
Just an FYI....Jeff said the cause was most likely an overload from a power surge.
"Power surge", if it means anything, is a synonym for "overvoltage". Do you have overvoltage protection, like transient voltage suppressors, on your layout? If not, overvoltage is a plausible explanation; and a responsible circuit designer should have taken it into account. If he didn't, then you can.
Asch
Your very welcome. Jeff is a very good person to deal with.
I have used a product called Lubriplate for gears, also I have used very small amounts of regular old 10W-30 synthetic oil applied with a tooth pick or artist's brush.
George
aschI started running it again and it still ran real slow. then the circut board started to smoke and the four "thingies" on the upper left of the board fried.I need to find out what they are and how to replace them. Can I get them at radio shack or do I have to go through Lionel? Also is that the cause of the slow running? What would have caused them to fail?
The motor is "lifetime-lubed" (it's a can motor). Grease the worm & wheel, & oil the axles.
The four "thingies" are TO-202 case transistors used for providing power to the motors in the direction requested by the logic chip. I think only two are used at a time (F or R) as they are heat-sinked in pairs to each other. And they do fail if you ask too much of them.
You need to find out if there is any binding in the driveline before replacing the reverse unit.
If you can get the numbers off the TO-202 transistors, you could probably source them, maybe even with higher current capacity units.
Rob
Thank you for the injput. I put the entire unit back together without the shell. I still runs slow and the case transistors are hot to the touch. I think the motor is shot so it sits on a shelf waiting repairs.
Remove the motor from the chassis and run it seperately from the wheels to see if it is the motor, or the chassis/wheels/side rods that are binding up.
I will try that...thanks!
Box Car An semi related question I also bought a polar express set for my boys and from the box the smoke unit is very anemic at best and when going down the track it wobbles. do you know any issues that i should be aware of .
Thanks and sorry i am off topic a bit
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