Whistle Operation Problem

[rlbarnard]

Hi,

I just got a Williams NYC F-3--it's a beauty!!

Anyway this is my first engine with sound--I know were the heck have I been!

I power my set with a KW transformer. When the engine is sitting still, the whistle works great.

When the train is in motion, I may have gotten sound once or twice but it is mostly silent.

What's going on?

PS: Since my KW doesn't have a bell button, how do I operate my bell?

Thanks for your attention,

Dick

[dougdagrump]

My guess is that you might have to invest in a horn/bell button that kind of acts like an interface between the new electronics and the older style transformers. Not sure of the item #'s but someone else may jump in later with additional info.

Does the owner's manual say anything about this?

[phillyreading]

The Lionel part # is 6-5906, made about five to seven years ago.

The other thing about Williams and using the bell feature is that you may have to hold the button for three or four seconds to get the bell to work and again for the same time to turn off the bell.  At least this is how my Williams (before Bachmann) work. Works that way with all transformers that I have tried with it.

I have a more fancy set of F-7's, an A-B-A set, that the horn will only work when the voltage is at a certain point(around 10 volts or higher). The sound unit is made by QSI and is mounted in the B unit.

Lee F.

[rlbarnard]

Hi,

The F-3 is a BachmannWilliams engine with a TrueBlast II sound system. The instructions say that the sound system requires at least 6 volts to operate.

The F-3 is an ABA configuration with the powered unit running in the lead position.

Dick

[rlbarnard]

Thanks for the help. I ordered two Lionel "L15906 Railsounds Trigger Buttons" from Charles Ro @ $15.95 ea.

Lionel.com is currently out of stock.

Dick

[phillyreading]

Dick,

Those should work! Wire one the regular way and wire the second one in reverse to get the bell feature to work. The other thing you should do if the horn works without any button being pushed is clean the track!!

Lee F.

[mikemc52]

The complete Lionel part number for the Sound Activation Button is 610-5906-001.  Lionel has them on their website for $15.  I also found a good wiring diagram in the Polar Express Tender Owner's Manual that I pulled up on the Lionel website.  It shows how to hook two up for whistle and bell operation.

Does anyone know how this Sound Activation Button operates compared to one of the old 167 Whistle Controllers.  I'm betting the new electronic whistles need the Sound Activation Button as opposed to the old Whistle Controller.  I know the 167 whistle controller same as the post war ZW transformer with whistle switch operates by providing a DC voltage to the track to activate a relay in the tenders with a whistle motor.  But I'm not sure what the Sound Activation Button does.  I have a newer Lionel Dockside locomotive with electronic whistle and it doesn't work with my ZW transformer so I believe I need one of the Sound Activation Buttons to make the electronic whistle work?

Mike 

[phillyreading]

Mike,

I would say to buy the new Lionel sound actvation button as the old 167 was designed for post war trains and not modern trains with newer electronics. The new ZW should work with the Dockside locomotive, however if you have the post war ZW it may not work without a sound activation button. To tell if you have a post war ZW or a modern ZW; the post war has everything self contained to include the power source, the modern ZW has to have a power source(what some people call bricks) hooked up to it.

Also most newer MTH transformers should be able to work the whistle in your Docksider loco.

Lee F.