10 year old lionel malfunctioning...

[Anonymous]

Just a questions for someone that might know...

I am having a problem with a 10 year old lionel, New york central set...

as you take it around the track it will on its own reverse direction
and run backwards, you switch it back and it switches again to
reverse... occasionally it would go a couple times around before
reversing, but it always seems to want to run backwards...

if running backwards it would stay backwards indefinitely...

I switched the direction the train was running and it would still
switch to backwards...

the train is 10 years old but only used 3 or 4 times...

any suggestions...

I also tried using a different outlet, to no avail...

thanks for any help you may offer...[:(]

[Chris F]

It sounds like a power interruption (e.g., from dirty track) is causing the reverse unit to cycle. However, this usually is an issue only for two position (forward/reverse) e-units, and I don't think these units were used in any Lionel locos made in the last 10 years.

To clarify, please provide the number of the set or of the locomotive.

[Anonymous]

I pulled it out of the garage,

its the NY Central flyer, looks to be model # 6-11735...

I found no model # on the train just the white embossed 8632 on the side???

the controller seems pretty cheesy model # AC1803000

18 VAC 3 AMP 77 Watt

does this help?

thanks

[1688torpedo]

Hello Octnative1964 ! There should be a slide switch underneath the engine towards the rear. This is used to lockout the reverse unit so that the train runs in one direction only. Give this a try and see what happens. there should be nothing else wrong with your train if it has not been used too much.Hope this helps out...Keith

[eZAK]

Your set is equiped with an electronic reverse unit.
The sequence should be forward/ neutral/ reverse.

An interuption in power will cause a change unless the lock out button is ingaged.
Check for loose or dirty track & loose lock on connections.

Your owners manual can be found here; http://www.lionel.com/CustomerService/Findex.cfm

[Chris F]

Your 11735 set was offered from 1993 to 1999, and included a 18632 4-4-2 NYC steam loco. As Pat noted, the loco has a three-position reverse unit, so the symptoms you described (going from forward directly to reverse) are unusual. You can use Pat's link, or go directly to the manual with this one -

http://www.lionel.com/products/productnavigator/InstructionManuals/71-1735-250.pdf

If the track is clean and the connections are good, another possibility is a bad insulator between the center rail and the metal tie below the rail. I've experienced this with my O-27 track. The weight of the train could be enough to cause a momentary short. You'll need a volt-ohm meter to check for continuity between the center and outside rails while pressing down on the track (remove the train and lockon, first). There should be no continuity between these rails.

[Anonymous]

thanks for the replys....

the reverse switch did not seem to help, it I recall it locked it into reverse...

I figured the voltage may be a problem, I have a Volt meter, how would I test to see it it is maybe the power supply (my first thought) vs the track , vs the engine itself???

is there a specific resource on how to do this, or a previous thread I could be directed to??? thanks in advance...

[Chris F]

If it's the transformer causing momentary power interruptions, that would be the first time I've heard of it. I doubt a VOM could respond fast enough to such short-term voltage fluctuations, but you could try. As with track testing, one lead would go to the center rail, the other to one of the outside rails. AC Voltage, set for the 10-20V range if needed.

In case you diagnose the problem as the engine, the part number for the electronic e-unit is 600-0103-001. It should be available from a local Lionel Service Center, or for $13 direct from Lionel ( www.lionel.com , Customer Service, Replacement Parts).

[Anonymous]

thanks guys

I'll have to pull it out of the garage and set it up for some testing... does the amount of track make any difference... ie if I was running a shorter track than usual.. just a plain circle, the straight tracks were left out....


I'll post what I find out...

[Chris F]

Test all your track. If the problem is in a piece of track, Murphy's Law dictates it will be the one that you didn't test.[;)]