I am wondering if a bell ringing mechnism could be installed in the Lionel B6 0-6-0 switcher made in the 90’s. I gutted the tender, I cannot stand railsounds 1 or the whistle it had, and installed postwar trucks on the tender, I hooked the reverse light up to the locomotive, Although the original bell mech is probably hard to get. Any ideas. Mike
how about the bell mechnism from a junked postwar switcher?
It would have to have the ringer like was used in the original B6’s, the 622 bell ringing switcher from the post war era, uses a mechincal ringer driven from one of the axles on the truck, you wouldn’t be able to do that in the tender. But yes it could be done with the right ringing mech.
Hello Lgbf7 ! Try Dr.Tinkers Toy Train Parts in Lexington,Ma He might have a old Bell Ringing Mechanism laying around his shop or maybe he can help you get one.Good Luck…Keith.
The bell mechanism off the 1656 switcher will fit nicely into the B6. I have found several of the bell mechanisms on ebay over the years. The 1656 set-up is reliable and has a nice tone to it, and does not require any work other than the installation in the tender and subsequent wiring. A small slot in the frame of the tender to allow the on/off latch to fit is about the only real effort required to get the unit running.
Not only are they on Ebay frequently most of the post-war parts suppliers will have them, they just aren’t that difficult to find, nor are they expensive. I bought my last complete mechanism for $12.50 on eBay last August.