Changing headlight on Lionel J1a

Here are my thoughts:

I just looked at mine and if you remove the screw holding the headlight bracket the bracket will slip out. The bulb is held in by a grommet, and these are often fussy, but using some needle-nose pliers and such, you can worry it out. If the bulb (not an LED, I believe) is truly burned out, don't worry about damaging it.

The new bulb (most small 14 - 18V bulbs will do) will be easy, but getting the grommet back in can make one lose his religion, if any.

I have often skipped the grommet and secured the new bulb with a bit of silicone or Walthers Goo (or the like). The grommet does help keep light from coming out ther rear of the headlight, but so will black paint on the bulb's backside.

Before you do all that, you could unplug the bulb and test it on a low-voltage DC power source (old Tyco HO power pack, for example) - but I think that you have to remove the boiler shell to get to it - but you are going to need to do that anyway to put the new one in.

Model railroading is the definition of fiddling, sometimes.

Thanks for the tip.  I will try that.

Before you do make sure you did not accidentally turn it off via the AUX 2 key.

Don't ask me why I know.

I usually take the boiler off to get a better handle on it.

I replace them with an LED, it makes a much nicer looking headlight, the beam is focused down the track just like the real thing.

Where did you get the LED?

I use a 3mm flangless warm white LED.  I add a series resistor and diode to limit current.  I get them from your favorite auction site, ID: 321711332163

If you have regular warm white LED's, you can simply file the flange off for the fit.

For articulated locomotives with the headlight mounted on the pilot, I use a chip LED glued to the rear of the housing, that one is a bit trickier to get in there.

Thanks to everyone, I got the bulb out.  Now I need a replacement light bulb.