Williams GP-9 bell

[phillyreading]

How do I get the bell to activate on my Williams GP-9 diesel(#8490)?
I have tried; a KW transformer, a ZW transformer and a Lionel sound activation button # 6-5906.
The true blast horn works great, a Williams dealer demostrated this unit for me and now he has moved.
Lee F. in West Palm Beach FL

[Anonymous]

Try reversing the wiring between the transformer and track; i.e., attach the wire that is currently going to the center rail to an outside rail, and vice-versa.

I would like to know whether this works for you.

If it does, (the bell should sound but now the horn won't blow) I would suggest getting another "Sound Activation Button" and wiring the pair of them as instructed on Lionel's website.

wolverine49

[jefelectric]

Lee,

If you know the engine is working you should be able to make the bell ring by wiring the sound activation button backwards from the way it is wired to sound the horn. You should still be able to sound the horn with the horn/whistle controler built into your transformer.

John

[otftch]

Are you sure it has a bell ? None of my Williams do.
Ed

[Anonymous]

Good question, otftch. My one Williams diesel loco doesn't have a bell either, which is why I suggested that phillyreading try it with the wire leads reversed and report back. If everything else is working correctly, no sound should mean no bell.

My solution to precisely that problem has been to wire-in a microswitch to cut off the William's speaker, and then put a diesel Railsounds boxcar in the consist. That way I get horn, bell and locomotive sounds.

I prefer using two Lionel Sound Activation Buttons in this configuration, but other schemes will work, as mentioned in other posts above.

wolverine49

[jefelectric]

I just put my Williams GP-9 (cat #7210) on the layout and it definately has a bell. It is probably the loudest bell in any of my locos. Using a Z-4000 the bell and horn both work fine.

John

[lyle_styles]

Hello,

I have to hold down the bell button on my transformer for one second to activate the bell in my Williams GP-9. (Soo Line)

I also need to hold the bell button down again for one second to turn the bell off. It is a loud one.

The paperwork that had come with my Williams engine had stated this otherwise I may have had a bit of trouble.

Holding the button for one second is actually longer than a person might think compared to how I at least use the buttons for other engines.

Hope this may help.

Lyle R Ehlers

[phillyreading]

Ed (aka otftch), the Williams dealer that I bought it from proved to me that it has a bell by demonstrating it to me at his house! Yours may have a bell feature too if you try to find out, most Williams GP-9's made within five years should have this feature.
Lee Fritz

[phillyreading]

Lyle;

Thanks, I tried your suggestion to hold the sound button down for about three seconds and the bell works, hold it down again for three seconds to turn off the bell.

A note for others who are reading this not all Williams diesels have this feature, be sure to ask about this feature.

One other note about the deals I got on Williams trains, I bought a Santa Fe F-7 ABA
three unit diesel with six passenger cars for $400.00 from the Williams dealer I used to know, the B unit has True Sounds by Williams in it, the passenger cars are Williams Luxury liners 60 foot plated. Hope I got a good buy on the set.
The GP-9 cost me $125.00 with the bell and True Blast horn, other GP-9 set cost me $200.00 #'s 8797 & 8798 Pennsylvania locomotives with one powered and one unpowered with an older horn unit in it. I am running the three GP-9's together and I can pull a very long train if I want to.
Lee Fritz in West Palm Beach FL.

[otftch]

I'll try first thing tomorrow.Thanks for the info.
Ed
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It's tomorrow and do I feel stupid. All of mine do have bells.(2678,2275,2277,2279,820,1710) .I guess the instruction sheets are there for a reason.
Ed