So i finally got the horn to sound on my 2245 Texas special sometimes only by flipping the engine over with the new d cell battery in. i have to either shake the engine upside down or tap the battery cover to get the horn to sound turned over. But when I try to activate the horn from my postwar 275w zw transformer, there is a slight vibrating sound I guessing from the relay electricly activating but the horn doesn't sound. Everything else works perfectly. i take the shell off and put the engine back on the track and try to remotely activate the horn from the transformer and the relay does engerize and the two contacts seem to touch each other but the horn doesn't sound. i also noticed that once the relay is electrically activated and the two contacts appear to touch once I take my hand off the whistle control on the zw the bottom contact doesn't drop back to it's resting position. I feel like I'm so close to finally getting the 2245 Texas special completelily overhauled and victory in sight but blocked by a glass wall preventing me from finishing a complete electrical overhaul on my 1954 lionel 2245 Texas special!
This is a Jim Barrett "Backshop" video dealing with whistle tune-ups but watch what he has to say about the relay:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGhGsrgF_Po&list=PLuSrvOwVMqg0LXO10oF17CjsNsPKbpkuT
It might help. A very brief segment about horns starts at 11:24.
Here's the whole "Backshop" series:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLuSrvOwVMqg0LXO10oF17CjsNsPKbpkuT
Hope this helps!
For what it's worth I had some problems with whistle relays and long story short it was due to the cold temperatures in my Chugger Barn! The relays did NOT like the cold! When the whistle tenders heated up to proper room temperature (65+ degrees) they worked perfectly.
in that video the guy doesn't describe what the name of the part that touches the plus side of the battery. How do I even replace it?
James Huff in that video the guy doesn't describe what the name of the part that touches the plus side of the battery. How do I even replace it?
See if this helps.
https://www.trainz.com/pages/parts-diagram/lionel-2333-2343-2344-2353-horizontal-motor-f-3-aa-diesel-exploded-view-parts-diagram?diagramId=16
If not check the trainz.com website for other parts diagrams.
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