My Lionel Docksider switcher (#28651 Bethlehem Steel) which was running great for about a year, suddenly decided to go real slow, almost like half speed. All functions work, whistle, reverse, lights. Upon internal inspection, I could see that there are two (transistors,resistors)? that sit up on the main board, that have a piece of black electricians tape (factory) on the top. One of them has melted the tape. Has anyone had a similar issue? Would it be worth my time/effort/money to have Lionel service this guy?
My first suggestion would be to look up the parts diagram on Lionel’s web pages. I did this and did not find the model of docksider that you own. The older version is available.
So, I would now take it to an authorized service center. You don’t need to put it back together. Show them what you found. More than likely they can order the part, which I imagine will be a electronics type of board. You could have them do the install or you could do it, too.
Since these locomotives sell for around $100, the decision to fix will be based upon the cost of the part (installation) that your service center recommends.
If you live in an area without a service center, call Lionel and make sure you tell them that there is not an authorized service center available to you. They seem to be more helpful when you tell them that tail of woe. [;)]
I just thought that I would close this out, although the end game has left me puzzled.
I removed the shell again, and I did some normal maintenance stuff like re-oiling the already oiled axles, gears etc. I noticed that the two large square resistors/transistors on the motherboard were touching each other, so I gently pried them apart. I rerouted some of the wires, to keep them away from the hot circuitboard.
Powering the engine while it was apart, to see if I could locate the problem source, the motor almost came to a complete stop, and the large resistor was ‘burn your finger’ hot. Then, all of a sudden it sprang to life, running as fast as it had out of the box, resistor now cooler. I tried to recreate the symptom by moving wires, twisting the circuitboards to no avail.
I’ve been running it around my 12’ x 20’ oval for two nights for at least 30 minutes a clip, pulling my 12 car Christmas train and it performed perfectly.
Although I’m thrilled that it is fixed, I would much rather have seen where the (short I assume) problem was.
Thanks to all that replied.
Bob, I had something similiar happen on one of my Lionel diesel engine’s smoke unit. A small capacitor connection to the circuit board was broken for no apparent reason after over two years of operation. I had never removed the shell of the engine. How the connection went bad was beyond my comprehension.
Glad you got the Docksider to run again, but I would guess that it will act up again. When? Who knows!![:)]
Bob,
Unfortunately one or more of the complementary pair (PNP and NPN) power transistors that regulate DC to the can motor is failing. That is why it is overheating. I have seen this failure a few times. The board will eventually have to be replaced. Contact Lionel and they can provide you a new board.
Typically the older electronic e-units use the TIP-31/TIP-32 complementary pair and the newer boards are using the F44H11G/F45H11G complementary pair (insolated TO-220 tab so the tape is not needed).
For fun (ha ha) in the past I have replaced the transistors on a couple of boards, but sometimes another component that controls the transistors has failed which caused the transistor to fail. These parts are typically under $2.00 each.