Hello, I am trying to learn a lot more about these fabulous MTH trains that we all know and love!!! I have a deep desire to be able to perform simple repairs for myself,and I have a true passion to learn more about their inner workings.
After 37 years,you would think that MTH would have somekind of common repair manual available. But they have kept everything TOP SECRET,exceot for a privileged few people.
I want to be able to look at a 3 or 5 volt board,and name the IC components,and know what is responsible for what. I also would like to know what are the most common problems on each board.
I know SOMEONE has to have figured this out by now, maybe something that is old hat to you,may make a LIGHT BULB go off in my mind about understanding them,instead of handing the repairman twice of what I paid for the train,or just making a dummy out of it.
I also heard they have diagnostic tester boards,for 3 volt,and 5 volt PS 2.0 DOes anyone have an old one they want to sell,??or can these be made by someone who knows what they are doing??.or are these TOP SECRET ALSO??? If someone has ANY information about the BOARDS,Harnesses,Motors, Speakers,Smoke Units;
I have a burning passion for wanting to learn more about these boards and what their IC components are,as well as the name of the other capacitators,resistors or any other electrical info that someone may have access to,or tell me where I can find it.
I am not out to become a repairman, I just want to buy old MTH trains and fix them for myself.I don't have thousands of dollars to spend on trains,and I learned how to repair and restore Prewar and Postwar Lionel,and knew absolutely NOTHING when I fixed my first GATEMAN 15 years ago,by following the exploded diagram in the Greenburg Operators Manual.
Why has;nt MTH put out something like this after 37 years of production???It 's not ROCKET SCIENCE,but it's not easy either to repair those IC's on those boards,but it beats buying a new upgrade kit if something goes out or makes the magic blue smoke???
If you would like to share some knowledge with me,i would be very greatful for your time and kindness.You can mail it to me direct at: kennybcars@gmail.com if you don't wish to share it through this post.
Since everything is TOP SECRET it seems like!!!!But after 37 years in business,there are plenty of broken.fried old trains to buy cheaper and repair,but the KNOWLEGE is the key part you need to assemble a small fleet without spending thousands of dollars,which I simply cannot afford.
I AM going to learn how to repair these trains,one way or another.I have a burning passion to know what makes them tick,and it's really the only way I can afford to be in this O gauge hobby,buying trains that need work,and repairing them to run on my layout
I would like to go to the classes MTH offers on repair,but I can't find a hobby shop to sponsor me to attend the classes. There are not too many hobby shops or train stores left around,and those that are near me,either are set with a great repairman,or do not want to even sell MTH trains because of all of the complaints and issues that require service or repair.
Are those 3 volt board and 5 volt diagnostic testers possible to reproduce???,or is there some TOP SECRET thing about them also??I have seen one for sale in the last 10 years,but it was gone before I could finish the e-mail.
Please help me gain more knowledge about these boards and trains. I knew nothing about postwar and prewar Lionel 15 years ago,but thanks to the Greenburg Operators Manual.I figured them all out,little by little.But at least I had a reference to go by.The book does not tell you HOW to fix all of them,but at least you can get an idea with the exploded diagrams and brief explanations.
I hope everyone has a blessed day.Put The Lord first,and good things will fall into your hands -Kenny
