213 Lift Bridge Repair Success - Due to this Forum

Don(Cerritos) posted:

I had a mishap with the PCBA in the Lift Bridge, I smoked it!  After making numerous calls trying to locate it, it was obvious there are not any available.  I then did a Search on this Forum, looking for any comments related to the board.  I found a thread from 2012 that Jeff H., had posted with a similar problem.  In his thread Mike Reagan had offered a work around solution.  I sent an email to both Jeff and Mike asking for any information regarding the work around.  Jeff replied WITHIN 24 hours, (on a weekend) that he would check for the data.  Sure enough the next day he sent me a schematic indicating how I could implement a solution!  By Tuesday I received a similar reply from Mike Reagan!  Talk about responsiveness!  (The fix required a bridge rectifier, and a reversing toggle switch, ONLY!)

One of the suppliers I contacted me one week later, from a voice mail I had left them.  (They had been away visiting grandchildren, you CAN'T blame them for that!)  He didn't have the board, but DID have replacement LED beacons that I needed, at a VERY reasonable price.  $3 each.  (S&W Parts, NY)

So now the bridge is perfectly functional, works and looks just like new!

This isn't the first time, I have had great success as a result of the members of this forum.  Thanks A LOT Jeff and Mike!  The staff at Lionel Customer Service/Support really tried hard to help me locate the parts, and gave me the lead for S&W Parts.  The people at S&W were extremely nice and very pleasant to deal with!  All said and done, What a Great Community!

'

Hi Don I just bought the same bridge and the board is bad. Would you mind sharing the work around? This is a beautiful bridge and I would love for it to work. Thanks,

David

David, Just to let you know I got your message.  No problem I will be happy to share the information with you.  It is very easy to fix. once you can gett to the pcba.  You will need a Bridge Rectifier and DPDT Momentary toggle switch.  (You might want two, one at the bridge location, another at a Control Panel or other remote location.

Should have more infor within a day.

Don

Don(Cerritos) posted:

David, Just to let you know I got your message.  No problem I will be happy to share the information with you.  It is very easy to fix. once you can gett to the pcba.  You will need a Bridge Rectifier and DPDT Momentary toggle switch.  (You might want two, one at the bridge location, another at a Control Panel or other remote location.

Should have more infor within a day.

Don

Thanks for getting back to me so quick! I'm not sure what a bridge rectifier is, or the DPDT momentary toggle switch... are these parts that Lionel supplies? 

Thanks again,

David

David,

Here's what I got;

The most difficult part of the repair is getting to the motor.  The file below is an exploded view of the bridge.  (I would suggest taking pictures as you disassemble, and pay attention to orientation of the various components.) 

When you get to the PCBA you want to disconnect the wires from the PCBA to the motor.  (The pcba MAY still be functional for lighting the "Marker Beacons" on the bridge, if so you will want to keep the PCBA connected to transformer power.  Replacement Beacons are available and you could wire them directly if you so desired.

The schematic below is how to wire the motor up using a DPDT toggle switch.  (DPDT - Double Pole, Double Throw.  Toggle switch which has these positions ON-OFF-ON , and has 6 terminals on the backside.  There are two types "Momentary" and "Standard", the "Momentary" is what you want, it is spring loaded and is the normally OFF position.  By it being Double Pole, one direction will raise the bridge UP, the other direction will LOWER the bridge.   The Bridge Rectifier, converts the AC power coming from the transformer to DC to accommodate the motor.

The Bridge Rectifier and DPDT switches should be available at local electronic store, if there are none in your area, I have used http://www.allelectronics.com/  

Going to this site if you search for p/n FWB-20 for the Bridge Rectifier, and p/n ST5-101 for the switches you will find the parts.  (Around $4.00 for both plus shipping).  You may want to consider two sets, one for a switch location next to the bridge, the other switch being located at a different remote location, i.e. Control Panel.  If you have difficulty let me know I think I have some.

Also, I found a small box (metal or plastic) to mount the switch in, that I could mount on the layout.  (I dont have a good picture of the switch box I used, it is my customers location.  But, in the image below it is located on the right center of the image, near the Legacy CAB-2, it has two labels on it "UP" and "Down")

Hope this all helps you, and if you have any questions feel free to contact me.  Good Luck!  Don

Don(Cerritos) posted:

David,

Here's what I got;

The most difficult part of the repair is getting to the motor.  The file below is an exploded view of the bridge.  (I would suggest taking pictures as you disassemble, and pay attention to orientation of the various components.) 

When you get to the PCBA you want to disconnect the wires from the PCBA to the motor.  (The pcba MAY still be functional for lighting the "Marker Beacons" on the bridge, if so you will want to keep the PCBA connected to transformer power.  Replacement Beacons are available and you could wire them directly if you so desired.

The schematic below is how to wire the motor up using a DPDT toggle switch.  (DPDT - Double Pole, Double Throw.  Toggle switch which has these positions ON-OFF-ON , and has 6 terminals on the backside.  There are two types "Momentary" and "Standard", the "Momentary" is what you want, it is spring loaded and is the normally OFF position.  By it being Double Pole, one direction will raise the bridge UP, the other direction will LOWER the bridge.   The Bridge Rectifier, converts the AC power coming from the transformer to DC to accommodate the motor.

The Bridge Rectifier and DPDT switches should be available at local electronic store, if there are none in your area, I have used http://www.allelectronics.com/  

Going to this site if you search for p/n FWB-20 for the Bridge Rectifier, and p/n ST5-101 for the switches you will find the parts.  (Around $4.00 for both plus shipping).  You may want to consider two sets, one for a switch location next to the bridge, the other switch being located at a different remote location, i.e. Control Panel.  If you have difficulty let me know I think I have some.

Also, I found a small box (metal or plastic) to mount the switch in, that I could mount on the layout.  (I dont have a good picture of the switch box I used, it is my customers location.  But, in the image below it is located on the right center of the image, near the Legacy CAB-2, it has two labels on it "UP" and "Down")

Hope this all helps you, and if you have any questions feel free to contact me.  Good Luck!  Don

 

That is very helpful. I'm not good with electrical stuff and I can figure that out. Just 2 concerns. 1: I would have no idea where to buy those parts down here were I live. 2 they are not coming up on the search engine of the web sight you provided. Any ideas. 

And thank you so much for all of your help!

I blew that, the P/N's are:  STS-101  (should have been an "S" not a "5"}  Rectifier IS

FWB-14   That works.  Sorry