Question on Genesis F unit light bulb replacement?

[richhotrain]

This is an oft-asked question on this and other forums.

The Genesis bulbs do, indeed, burn out prematurely and are difficult, and time consuming, to replace. Since you need to remove the shell anyhow to install the decoder and to solder resistors between the bulbs and the decoders, you might as well replace the Genesis bulbs with 1.5 v Miniatronics bulbs.

The problems associated with replacing the bulbs have all to do with the fact that the bulb housing is set into the shell rather than on the frame as is the case with most HO engines. The bulbs are held in place with soft cement that must be removed to get the bulbs out and then new soft glue must be used to reinstall the bulbs. Since the bulbs merely "float" within the housing, the soft glue is used to hold the bulbs in place.

You must be careful not to pu***he bulbs too far into the housing or else the lens cap will not fit in place. Once the bulbs are installed with resistors, the shell is then fitted back onto the frame. Clear plastic retainer clips are used to hold the shell onto the frame. This clear plastic retainer clip is fairly large and long, serving also as the windows on the unit. You need to be careful not to break the clip becuase it is somewhat fragile. I broke one and had to glue the pieces back in place, getting glue on the window portion in the process.

You need patience (and time) to say the least when installing the decoder and resistors or when replacing the bulbs, or both.

[Vampire]

I've had this trouble on some of my Genesis locos, one F unit and 2 SD70M's. The SD-70's had burnt out ditch lights which were great fun to replace. I've replaced the Athearn bulbs on all with Miniatronics 1.5V bulbs (I'm running in DC). I also installed a resistor in series with one side of each pair of bulbs to try and extend the life. I think I used 8 Ohm 1/4 Watt resistors.

As to the F unit, my model had one bulb go out. It has 2 bulbs glued into a clear, round lens. I think they used some kind of rubbery epoxy or RTV, similar to Walther's Goo. I was able to pull both bulbs from the lens and secure the new bulbs with RTV. I think Goo would mar the clear lens so I didn't use it for that job.

Only time will tell if my efforts were successful. Some modellers replace the bulbs with white LED's. I may go that route if I keep having problems.

[cacole]

Athearn Genesis locomotives use 1.5 Volt bulbs that require resistors when installing a DCC decoder, unless you get one of the newest decoders from Train Control Systems that has the resistors built in. The Athearn bulbs are extremely small -- smaller than a grain of rice lamp, even, so finding substitutes is very difficult.

Even running on DC, these Athearn bulbs don't seem to last very long.

[okiechoochoo]

I am just getting into HO. I understand the light bulbs in Athearn Genesis F units burn out quickly. Is this true. Does this happen on DCC and DC both.
I also understand it is difficult to change the bulbs. Any advice here would be appreciated. Thanks