My latest issue with my Lionel toy train (1950's postwar Alco Santa Fe Diesel pair) is that the horn has stopped working. I have replaced the rectifier in my KW transformer, and the horn relay in the "dummy" locomotive is responding to activation by the horn/whistle switch. The "D" cell battery is fresh and the contacts in the battery compartment are clean with no battery leakage or corrosion. I have opened the horn and polished the contacts with 400 grit sandpaper. I have also cleaned/polished the contacts on the relay with 400 grit sandpaper as well. It appears as though there is no current passing from the relay to the horn. The solder joints are intact. Could the relay be bad? Does anyone have any inspiration for me? Thanks.
Check the horn directly with a fresh battery. Touch one end of a battery directly on the case of the horn and use a leghth of wire to touch the other battery contact to the horn wire on the relay. The horn should sound. If it does not, the horn may be bad. Unsolder the horn wire from the relay and using an ohmmeter set to the low ohms range, check the resistance through the horn coil. If you get a reading, then the coil is good, and the horn may need adjustment. If you get an infinite reading, the coil is open, possibly a broken wire internally.
Larry
Tooth Fairy
Don’t feel lonely, all of those post-war horns stunk. They don’t sound good if they do work. I just leave the battery out and pull a boxcar with sounds. JMHO!
Joined 1-21-2011 TCA 13-68614
Kev, From The North Bluff Above Marseilles IL.
Tooth Fairy there is a option if it has died theres a company called E.R.R. electric rail road that sells tmcc ( you don't need that ) but it also sell a diesel sound and horn stand alone that will work in your unit with the speaker and all you need to hook it up. www.electricrr.com they have dealers listed I recommend Bill in Ohio but your choice.
Life's hard, even harder if your stupid John Wayne
http://rtssite.shutterfly.com/
Thanks everyone. I did Larry's test, and the horn didn't sound. I'll go to www.electricrr.com and try to get a stand alone diesel horn.
A replacement horn, part #2367-55 is available here.
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