Can local repair Lionel repair centers replace boards

@gunrunnerjohn works there and can probably answer that.

If its still under warranty send it to Lionel if not I'm sure GRJ is more than qualified to perform the work

If its under warranty Lionel will do the exchange. If its out of warranty then an authorized Service Station can do the exchange assuming its Legacy. Many Pre Legacy Sound boards are now available to anyone without exchange.

Pete

The 6-49632 Polar Express FlyerChief has a single board that does all the sound and control.  It's currently listed as "unavailable" on the Lionel site.  Since this is a 2016 Catalog item, I'd think it's probably still under warranty, send it back to Lionel.

Hi John,

Purchased in it December 15 from the 2015 catalog.  So I think it's out of warranty.  It runs, just no sound.  Is it worth bringing in to see if it is just a loose wire or connection?

Francine

Well, that's quite possibly the tether as the speaker is in the tender.  It's a common issue with the LC stuff.

Hi John,

I'll drop it off at the shop Saturday (with tender and handheld). 

Just in case, is it possible to put a new sound unit in, other then the original?

Like I said, it's an "all in one" board, so you'd be replacing the whole board with all the sound and motor control.  I haven't seen a lot of these yet, so I don't know if the boards are generally available to be honest.  I know that Marty Fitzhenry sees quite a few, and he's talked about replacing boards, so obviously some of them are available.

Hi John,

Understood, but my question is, if it is the board and only the sound is gone and Lionel can't supply new boards, can some other sound board be added? For clarification, use the motive board and add something for sound?

Fancine, if its under warranty why not just send it to Lionel and let them worry about?

Pete

Pete,

As I said before, purchased in December of 2015 - one year warranty.

Francine posted:

Hi John,

Understood, but my question is, if it is the board and only the sound is gone and Lionel can't supply new boards, can some other sound board be added? For clarification, use the motive board and add something for sound?

It's an ALL or NOTHING situation here, the sound interface is integrated into that single board.  Since this is an LC locomotive, you have to have the receiver able to control the sound.  There is no solution other than a complete board replacement if the board is indeed bad.

We're getting the cart before the horse, it's likely it's a problem with the tether and/or speaker, and possibly wiring inside the locomotive.

Francine, did you make sure the sound switch is on or that the volume didn't accidentally get turned down using the remote?  Just a thought.

Dean

Francine,

If you have the receipt, call Lionel or send them an email at Talktous@lionel.com as on the high end items they will work with you, been there called them and they repaired items FOC, I paid shipping.

Kevin 

Replacing boards is easy.   Replacing components on the boards is hard.  

My local shop told me a few years ago that he was very frustrated trying to repair lionel stuff.   He said each run seems to have different boards and components, and the kicker, Lionel never seemed to have replacements for older ones.   I think this might be true of other mfg but he was a Lionel repair shop.    He said he could find the problems, but could not get the parts because they told him they no longer stocked them.

Hi Frances. Bring it into the shop. We can see what is exactly going on with it.  I remember selling it to you. We can go from there. 

Hi Frances. Bring it into the shop. We can see what is exactly going on with it.  I remember selling it to you. We can go from there. Possible is the board may not be the problem. We have had this before. You can control the volume from the remote.

Hi Harry,

Already going to do it Saturday.  I checked the connection between the engine and tender.  Tried to raise the volume, but it make no sound - doesn't even been, like it used to when turn on, but hand held off.

I went bad at York, I took it home and it worked.  Ran it Saturday at a club event - no sound, took it home no sound.  I suspect something might be loose or maybe unsoldered?

Francine

See you then.

Ok Folks, now for resolution:  Harry tested the engine on his layout and the sound worked intermittently.  He took the tender in the back, came back and placed it back on the track.  Worked perfectly.  The answer:  DIRTY WHEELS. 

I forgot to check that.  In HO that was the most frequent problem.  In O it is rarely a problem, but because S is 2 rain, like HO - it pays to check the wheels frequently.

Thanks to Harry and all the folks at Hennings!