While walking around my layout today...

Classic Toy Trains Forum
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I noticed a smell. A smell I knew from having transformers go up in smoke. So I check out the transformers…no sign of smoke. Then I notice my 151 semaphore was staying down despite the train being gone…darn 153 contactors. So, the smoke was coming from the motor of the semaphore and it was noticeably warm to the touch. Here’s my question which I fear I know the answer to…is the motor now useless and is it time to look for a new semaphore?

Oh…and does anyone know why an engine with railsounds would stop chugging? Most of the features still work…but the chugging and brake sounds are gone. They were a bit intermittent for awhile but now are completely gone. Thanks for putting up with my ramblings.

2

If it still works, it’s not broken.

3

jocli156,

Railsounds is a Lionel product, but other manufacturers use this system.

Call the manufacturer of the engine, let them know what is wrong and if the warranty is still current, they may have you send it to them for repair, or replacement, at no, or for a slight charge.
Charges for repair and shipping are subject to the manufacturer’s terms, if any, or all applies.

Good Luck,

Ralph

4

Which loco is it ?

5

As was stated if it is still operational it survived the overheating.

I have one of the Lionel semaphores that has the plastic base and housing, similar circumstance where it overheated. Unfortunately the plastic frame work did not survive the incident.

6

The loco is a 5405 Hudson. One of the smaller versions made back in '99 I believe. Pretty sure the warranty expired many moons ago.

Thanks for the info on the semaphore…good to know it’s not gonna catch fire or blow up or something.

7

I have a 3504 baby Hudson that does the same thing it will work fine and then nothing for sound but if I do a reset it comes back and runs fine. I just got this around Christmas and it was nib when I got it. Yes the box was still factory sealed. I still love it and it runs fine I just have to do a reset every so often I sometimes wonder if I put the 9v battery in it would it correct this but from your post I’m thinking it probably won’t.

8

If it is tetherless engine with Railsounds, then there is a chuff sensor near one of the tender wheels. If the sensor gets pushed too far away from the wheel, it will no longer receive a “pulse” so to speak.

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no its not tetherless

10

I tried the reset yesterday with no avail…I guess whatever is supposed to sense the speed has malfunctioned.

11

The engine still has a sensor on one of the wheels, either a hall effect sensor or a reed switch with a magnet. Your description sounds like the sensor or magnet has become dislodged.

12

Thanks, I had no idea those things existed, haha.

13

I took these pics today…could you possibly tell which of the methods is used to make the chuffing sound in my engine:

http://cs.trains.com/TRCCS/themes/trc/utility/[URL=http://img709.imageshack.us/i/img1975il.jpg/[IMG]http://img709.imageshack.us/img709/1271/img1975il.th.jpg[/IMG][/URL]:550:0]

http://cs.trains.com/TRCCS/themes/trc/utility/[URL=http://img215.imageshack.us/i/img1974q.jpg/[IMG]http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/5950/img1974q.th.jpg[/IMG][/URL]:550:0]

14

Upon further reading it may have a mechanical trigger that works in tandem with the smoke unit. I think that’s what I saw when I removed the shell to take the pics…now how to make it start working again?

15

Well, the mechanical trigger is obviously some sort of switch, if you could provide some detailed pictures of that mechanism, we can probably help.

16

So…this seems to be the problem: What makes the chuff sound is basically a button. The button is triggered by being depressed by the silver metal strip as seen in the picture. The metal strip is pressed down when the smoke plunger goes up. It seems the metal strip isn’t being depressed far enough to trigger the chuff sound. I was able to get the sound my manually pressing it with a screw driver.

http://cs.trains.com/TRCCS/themes/trc/utility/[IMGhttp://img15.imageshack.us/img15/2774/img1987vm.jpg[/IMG] By jocli156 at 2011-05-09:550:0]

http://cs.trains.com/TRCCS/themes/trc/utility/[IMGhttp://img5.imageshack.us/img5/3981/img1990jx.jpg[/IMG] By jocli156 at 2011-05-09:550:0]

17

Hmm… I suppose the first thing is would try is to get in there with a tiny pliers and put a small upward bend in the end of the metal plate where the rocker contacts it.

18

It that a Williams?

19

I agree with the opinion that you either form the switch lever or change the position of the switch mount, whichever is easier/possible. The fact that you can manually trigger it seems to suggest that.

You might also have a defective switch, perhaps you’re having to press pretty hard to get a connection?

20

Nah, it’s a Lionel…I believe it was near the begging of them making engines over in Asia if that means anything.