Sound Board Repair advice

[RMLangworth]

I have two locos with fried soundboards. What’s the most efficient way to have them repaired? UPS to Lionel, or a local dealer (which could be hit and miss)?

If sound boards are in the tenders, do I need to send the locos or just the tenders?

Locos are SRR Mikado from FARR4 set 6-21188 and ATSF Hudson from Warhorse set 9-11838.

Advance thanks for advice.

[RMLangworth]

Sorry, "REPAIR ADVICE"

[phillyreading]

You should contact Lionel and see who they recommend sending it to for repair. The engine from the ATSF set is from 1997, so it will most likely be your money to repair it. You will have to send the complete engine and tender set in for repair.

[dougdagrump]

It helps a bit to know your general local to give a possible reccomendation for a repair station. A quick check of the Lionel "Repair Parts Listing" shows the needed parts available for the SRR Mike but no parts listed for the ATSF Warhorse. It is a relatively simple replacement but the bigger question is "Why/What caused the boards to go in both loco's"?  

[RMLangworth]

Thanks, gents. Local Lionel dealer put me on to Dr Tinker in Lexington, Mass., who is said to be much quicker at repairs than Lionel--and much closer.

Cause of the problem in my opinion was storage in a hot, uninsulated attic. I had to rebuild my collection after total destruction in a fire, and several years before the new trains came into use. I'm guessing the heat got to fine connections on the boards.

[TRAINCAT]

I am not sure dr.tinker does late model trains. His work is very expensive, you better get a quote first. I doubt that heat in the attic is what caused your problem.   It is possible the capacitors on the boards have dried out and failed.

Roger

[RMLangworth]

Thanks, I'll do that.

[TRAINCAT]

Did you try reversing the wires at the transformer and retry the whistles? Those types of electronic whistles will not work with the wires backwards. It seems odd that both of yours do not work.

Roger

[RMLangworth]

Yes, but all my other soundboards work normally. That's not the problem, which is confined only to these two locos.

[Boxcar Bill]

You can look here for the Sanfe Fe

 http://www.lionel.com/CustomerService/ReplacementParts/index.cfm?doAction=productPartFilter&number=6108062001&productID=317b14ac-a45b-484d-ac89-05e05ff078d7  

http://www.lionel.com/CustomerService/ReplacementParts/index.cfm?doAction=productPartFilter&number=6918062T01&productID=43580870-a9ae-417b-93f0-a7c746ecb7f2

 I would first try doing a reprogram as listed here.

http://www.lionel.com/ForTheHobbyist/GeneralTipsAndFAQs/InstructionstoRestoreTMCCfunctions.pdf   or use the code in your manual.

The problems could be on the engine side also. If you have other engines with a IR tether swap tenders and try to eliminate whether its the engine or tender. You may also swap the power board and sound board with other moduled engines to find if they are the problem.

Bill

[rrlineman]

for what it is worth, Lionel DOES NOT support any circuit boards more then 3 yrs old. so the FARR loco is out. as for the warhorse, Lionel or Dallee might have a upgrade board available but it would be very small chance. you could try North LIMA train parts in OHIO. that is where Lionel ships all their left over parts from production runs.

good luck!

[Lionelking313]

Please email me, I know of someone who can repair just about all the original Lionel Electronic Sound of Steam Circuit boards. I had a few repaired, and they work flawlessly!!!

mark