Yes it is very disappointing!!! Changing to TMCC would mean I need to get everything to run TMCC and NO I am not going to do that as I have no TMCC motive power. A big black eye for Lionel.
Joined 1-21-2011 TCA 13-68614
Kev, From The North Bluff Above Marseilles IL.
Well that's disappointing to hear, and also damn stupid if you ask me. Electronics can fail, trust me! And they can fail any time, tomorrow or 20 years from now, you just don't know.
Lionel's being VERY short-sighted about this! Sting a customer like that and you'll lose that customer permanently. People can understand paying for a repair if it's out of warranty, but they'll never understand no support at all.*
* Within reason of course. Obviously you wouldn't bring a Model T to a present day Ford dealership and expect them to service it!
Lionel does not support any high end electronics that is more then 2yrs old. They just barely order enough spares to cover warranty work. I have several friends that are service stations and if it doesn't get sent to North Lima Parts they can't even get it. One even tried to get a scheme of the boards in hopes of trouble shooting but Lionel said our boards and he couldn't have them. That's they way it is folks.
Another option ellectricrr.com and convert it to tmcc. I don't think the sound from the lionchief is compatible with the tmcc boards thou so you would have to get a sound board for tmcc also.
Either they can't get it themselves or they don't want to, or there's something proprietary in the board they don't want others to get their hands on, meaning you've got to send the whole unit back to Lionel.
However, I've gotten drop in replacement boards from Dallee Electronics, they come with installation instructions and work very well. You'll lose the LionChief capability but it'll run just fine conventionally. Since I run conventional anyway that's never bothered me in the least.
https://www.dallee.com/
Look under "E Units."
Does anyone know if there is a PCB that can replace Lionel part # 691ENGM213? It shows unavailable on the parts list with no replacement?
It is for a Lionel BNSF GP20 # 6-82171
Thanks,
https://www.lionelsupport.com/ReplacementParts/index.cfm?doAction=productPartFilter&number=6-82171&productID=fac9fa19-3835-4d86-8fdc-29f4f223a326
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