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Lionel 2026 headlight question

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  • Member since
    December 2012
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Lionel 2026 headlight question
Posted by Roop on Wednesday, December 5, 2012 1:56 PM

The headlight on my Lionel 2026 stopped working.  Any suggestion of how to fix this would be appreciated.

Thanks, Roop

 

  • Member since
    May 2012
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Posted by tjl0824 on Wednesday, December 5, 2012 3:09 PM

Under the front there is a metal bracket held on by 2 screws that the front truck attaches to. Take the screws out and lift the bracket straight off. The light bulb will drop down with the bracket. The problem could be a loose wire, but it likely just needs a new bulb.

Trevor

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Posted by Roop on Thursday, December 6, 2012 7:42 AM

Great!  Thanks.

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Posted by TRAINCAT on Thursday, December 6, 2012 8:50 AM

Many times these old wires have rotted and are shorting. Look carefully where the wire passes into the lamp housing and where the wire goes into the pad that the bulb sits on.

Roger

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Posted by Roop on Thursday, December 6, 2012 8:56 AM

Appreciate your advice.  Thanks.

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Posted by Roop on Sunday, December 9, 2012 5:22 PM

Headlight wire looked fine and the connection also seemed ok.  However, I had a new E-unit installed a while back and this is the first time I tested the train since the installation.

I am wondering if wires were crossed during the installation.  Does anyone have a wire diagram to share that shows how the E-unit, smoke stack and headlight wires are connected?

 Thanks.

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Posted by ADCX Rob on Sunday, December 9, 2012 9:15 PM

Rob

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Posted by Roop on Monday, December 10, 2012 12:09 PM

Thanks.

I don't quite understand the diagram, but I will try to work with it.

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Posted by Curmudgeon on Monday, December 10, 2012 1:40 PM

The headlamp wire connects to the lug on the side of the e-unit (not the fingers), next to the lockout lever. Power  to the e-unit coil, track pickup lead, also go there.

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Posted by arkady on Monday, December 10, 2012 3:43 PM

Headlight wire looked fine and the connection also seemed ok.  However, I had a new E-unit installed a while back and this is the first time I tested the train since the installation.

If it were me, I'd take the locomotive back to whoever installed the e-unit and tell him what you just told us.

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Posted by Roop on Tuesday, December 11, 2012 7:02 AM

Ah hah!  Currenty, the headlamp and smoke wires are together -- on the left side of the e-unit if I am looking at the back of the train.

You are saying the headlamp wire should be on the right side.  Don't quite understand what the fingers are :)

Thanks

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Posted by Roop on Tuesday, December 11, 2012 8:53 AM

Unfortunately, that store closed.

Thanks.

  • Member since
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  • From: Hopewell, NY
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Posted by ADCX Rob on Tuesday, December 11, 2012 12:25 PM

Roop
...Currenty, the headlamp and smoke wires are together -- on the left side of the e-unit if I am looking at the back of the train.

That's fine - the smoke unit, center rail rollers/collector, headlamp, and e-unit all make their connection at the same location(electrically, anyway, and usually physically too).

Rob

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Posted by Roop on Tuesday, December 11, 2012 12:29 PM

Oh, ok.

Then the problem may be the e-unit itself, even though it was supposed to be a new one. Sigh!

Thanks Rob.

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Posted by ADCX Rob on Tuesday, December 11, 2012 1:05 PM

The E-unit operation is completely separate from the headlamp.

Rob

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Posted by Roop on Tuesday, December 11, 2012 1:56 PM

And for a minute there, I thought I knew what I was talking about.

Perhaps, I should try to locate another lionel train repair shop......

 

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    January 2010
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Posted by kgstones on Tuesday, December 11, 2012 2:19 PM

If it's the wiring maybe some images of what you have might help.  I had a whistle problem a while back and I took photos of the board and wiring and someone spotted the problem in the photos.  Good luck!

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Posted by Roop on Tuesday, December 11, 2012 2:25 PM

Good idea.

Thanks.

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Posted by ADCX Rob on Tuesday, December 11, 2012 2:36 PM

Use the macro(the little flower icon) setting to get sharp up close pics.

Have you tested the bulb yet?

Rob

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    December 2012
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Posted by Roop on Tuesday, December 11, 2012 2:50 PM

Yep.  The bulb works fine.

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