Hello, this is my first time on this forum and I am very new to model trains. I have a 0-27 gauge Lionel Silver Star (no. 6-1183). Just a few questions. The transformer hums, is that normal? The train either needs a push or a little fiddling with the switch on the top of the train to actually get it moving. Is that a problem with the engine or just a bad connection with the tracks? And one more, the sounds are non existent. Could that be a bad speaker or sound board and are those replaceable? If anyone has answers I would greatly appreciate it. Like I said I’m very new to this but need to start learning somewhere. Thanks.
First off [#welcome]
Some transformer hum is normal
I don’t know what a Silver Star (no. 6-1183) is but it sounds like it could be a combination of problems.
One of the Lionel experts can help you
The Silver Star has The Mighty Sound of Steam and a two-position reverse unit. Because your engine is so old (38 years!), it really needs a good cleaning of the armature, brushes, and e-unit.
I would disassemble the engine, removing the brush-plate and brushes. Check to see that the brushes are approximately 1/4" long and can-shaped.
Dump the rest of the motor assembly into a shallow pan with mineral spirits. Brush both the armature and e-unit out with an old tooth-brush. When all the black gook stops coming off, set out in the sun to evaporate off the mineral spirits.
Then lube the armature shaft ends during reassembly. Lube the gears. Check to make sure that the smoke unit cam is not jamming as the piston rides up and down.
The Tender: Chances are more than good that your foam board-mount for the Mighty Sound of Steam is shot. Gets some new foam and replace this. The “Sounds” should sound like a mis-tuned AM radio being turned on and off if it is working. There is no whistle or bell.
Jon [8D]
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Wow!!! Thank you for such a detailed response. As I am new to this I have no idea which parts you are talking about[:O]. I will have to download a diagram of the engine or find something similar. Do you know of any sites that might have a diagram or the manual for old engines? Oh and one more thing. Is the smoke unit supposed to line up with the smoke stack? It doesn’t at the moment, it is set a little in front of the smoke stack. Thanks again for your advice.
Sam
Okay… according to the Lionel web site schematic, this set came with a #8041 Engine with manual reverse switch. This means no cycling between forward and reverse. You have to do it manually with the switch on top.
Here’s the LINK.
Scroll to the second choice.
If the engine has a real reverse unit, then there should be a solenoid coil and plunger mechanism where the manual reverse switch is shown.
Your problem may be that the smoke unit is improperly aligned, and jamming the drive mechanism.
How about some pictures?
Jon [8D]
Thanks Jon. I went to the link and it looks exactly like that. The way I could find to put a picture on here was my profile picture. That in the motor in the Silver Star. I was able to align the smoke unit and the problem didn’t go away but the smoking mechanism works. I’m just unsure what to take apart and clean because I am unfamiliar with the terminology. As far as I was able to determine the switch on top is the E-unit, or not? Thanks for your patience. My 4 year old son loves trains to a fault and has been asking me everyday to fix the new engine. It was because of his love for trains that I got interested, now I’m hooked. We just went to a train sale in La Crosse, WI and his picture turned up on the front page of their newspaper. So this is all very exciting but I am extremely ignorant of 99% of all things Lionel.
Sam
To post a photo, you’ll need to down-load it to a photo sharing site. There’s plenty of good free ones out there like PhotoBucket. I use Shutterfly.com, and am very happy. Once the photo is there, you can copy and paste the code from the photo location on the sharing site into the space between the [img] markers.
Things to look for: clean track (use a ScotchBrite pad…NEVER steel wool around trains!), clean wheels, and clean pick-up rollers.
Yes, there are replacement boards available for the sounds. There are even BETTER ones out there from:
But you’d then have a sound system worth way more than the engine!
Jon [8D]
Hey Jon, Thanks so much for your help and advice. I was able to clean it up and it is running smoothly! Still have to move the control at least halfway before it starts moving but no stalls and no frustrations. Just one more thing… Is there a way to clean the foam off of the sound board safely? Some of the foam stuck to it and I think that is why it is not working. At first it was making some noise and now there is none. Just wanted to let you know that your help is appreciated by me and my son. Thanks again! Sam
Sam, glad to hear that your train is up and running! I’m going to get you caught up on some of the terminology you were asking about earlier:
The E-Unit is a Lionel term for the widget that makes the train change directions when you cut the power to the engine. There are 2 position e-units (engine runs forward or reverse) and 3 position (engine runs forward, sits powered in neutral, then in reverse). Newer trains do not use an e-unit, properly speaking, but a circuit board that does the same thing and requires no maintenance. The lever is there to “lock out” the e-unit, so that the train will always start up in the same direction.
Parts of the motor: the black plastic plate with 3 (I think) screws (facing me in the photo you posted) is called the Brushplate. If you remove the brushplate, two little cylinders with springs attached to them will fall out: these are the Brushes. The brushes conduct electricity to the spinning part of the motor, which is called the Armature. The part of the armature contacted by the brushes is a round, flat copper surface (in this motor divided into three sections) called the Commutator Face.
Maintenance on the motor involves removing the brushplate and cleaning the commutator face until it is shiny. The brushes are also cleaned, and so are the wells they sit in. Mineral Spirits is good for this, but rubbing alcohol will suffice. Use a toothpick to scrape any gunk out of the slots separating the sections of the commutator face. DO NOT oil or lubricate the commutator face or the brushes or the brush springs.
Once you get the motor back together, you can oil the end of the Armature Shaft (which is, um, the shaft that comes out of the armature) at the point where it passes through the brushplate. Also, oil the other end, on the other side of the motor, which runs in a bearing of some sort. A little grease on the gears here is also good (a lot of people like Lucas’ Red 'n Tacky #2, a wheel bearing grease; the auto parts store will
i also have the 6-1183 train set with an engine that says 4181 on the side, and would like to rebuild the engine as described in this thread. however the link to the schematic provided 5 yrs ago is not longer valid, and i cannot locate the schematic on the lionel site. can any one help? Thanks!
If you’re planning on getting into vintage Lionel in a big way (and why not, they’re a gas!) Let me suggest you click on the word “Shop” in the black bar on the top of the website. Follow the links to “books” and order yourself a copy of “Greenbergs Repair Guide for Lionel 1945 to 1969.” I’ve got one and it’s worth it’s weight in gold for diagrams, parts numbers and nomenclature, and disassembly how-tos.
And welcome to the family!
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I believe the 6-1183 set came out in 1972 (i think). Does the book have the 8141 engine in it? my 6-1183 came with the 8141, not the 8041. I’m willing to buy the book if someone could peek inside it for me and tell me if it has the dissassembly and cleaning instructions for the 8141 or the 8041. thanks.
Mine sounds exactly like you explained it. Like turning on and off an am station. I thought this was broke until your post. Do they make a more modern replacement for this?
Lionel themselves doesn’t really make an actual replacement for the Mighty Sound of Static (as some call it), and, in fact, I don’t think that anybody has a real “plug and play” replacement for the MSoS. However, you could try a sound system from a company like Dallee. Or, if you like electronics tinkering, you could try building something… Amazon.com: Velleman MK134 Steam Engine Sound Generator with Whistle Kit 3.9x3.3" : Toys & Games (this would require modification to the board). Yet another option that I learned from a Youtube channel (I forget which one) is to stick a small Bluetooth speaker in there and then rig the computer producing the sound effects to do so in sync to the throttle. Or something.
Thank goodness, finally an answer after nearly 15 years! 
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Well the good news is if you’re looking for an updated sound board there’s two sources:
Dallee Electronics https://www.dallee.com
ERR by 3rd Rail ERR by 3rd Rail
The bad news is their updated sound boards are going to cost more than your Silver Star set is worth! What I’d do in your case is look for what I call an “orphan whistle tender”, that is a tender that for whatever reason has become separated from its locomotive over the years and ditch the one you’ve got. Look for one with a modern mechanical whistle that’s been made within the last 15 to 20 years. You can find them at train shows, train shops (sometimes) or from sellers of used trains like trainz.com.
If they’re in good shape they usually sell in the $30 to $40 range, maybe a little more depending on condition. Definitely less than a digital sound board.
(If you’re shopping on trainz and they don’t say if the tender has a whistle don’t assume it does. However examine the photos carefully, if they show the tenders underside and you see pick-up rollers and a hole in the bottom with what looks like a fan you’re good, it’s a whistle tender. Sometimes they’ll neglect to mention if the tender’s got a whistle.)
I’d avoid the typical Post-War (1946-1970) whistle tenders, they might have age-related issues of their own which CAN be dealt with by those who know how but if you DON’T know how it’s another headache you don’t need.
PS: I call it “Mighty Sound of SCREAM”! I bought a MSoS locomotive several years ago that let out a blood-curdling shriek the first time I powered it up! Almost gave me a nervous breakdown! 
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When you’re new to the forum everything is “unseen” in your feed. 
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Welcome aboard kcinmt! 
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