I read this now dead thread:
https://ogrforum.com/...tion-button-problems
It seems that this is not an isolated problem. 5906 says all hot track wires go through this button in series to the transformer which I did. I have a 2026 and a 6466W tender.
The whistle works perfectly on the tender.
Problem with steam sound car is that the 5906 sound button slowed the engine down when pressed. The best I could do was use the whistle lever on the KW to alternate between the bell and the whistle. I had modified the whistle circuit with a diode like on this 1033:
courtesy of Yardmaster in this thread:
https://ogrforum.com/...sion-for-lionel-1033
Actually I followed this exactly:
https://dfarq.homeip.net/lionel-kw-diode-upgrade/
So now the whistle circuit in the KW does not work (It's not the tender). Again, when I pressed the 5906 the engine slowed down to a crawl despite the fact that it actually worked the bell (and whistle) alternately. I stopped using the button a few weeks ago and instead used the whistle controller on the KW to activate both (with the button still wired as described). Turn the lever once (bell and whistle) Turn it again whistle sounds - bell stops
I know the top thread above never had a resolution, but does anyone know what gives with the button, sound car, and KW or what happened to my whistle circuit? I have plenty more 6A diodes if that is what burned out.
John
EDIT: Just opened up the KW. The diode shattered. Looking at the diode rebuild threads for the KW they seem to be calling for a 1N1190AR which is a 40A diode. That may be the entire problem. Probably should ditch the resistor wire and use a wire wound resistor as well.
