How do I replace the speaker in an AtlasO SW9???

I dont think you're overlooking anything. I'm pretty sure thats the way you gotta do it.  

Can you pop the U-joint apart with a small screwdriver? Trucks can probably stay if you can get the U-joint to separate.

Ron, I noticed it has a TAS board. If it’s from the very first run. I’m not sure what they had as far as features or even sound. They didn’t come with TMCC as I don’t think Lionel was licensing then. They may have been using Dallee.  I’m pretty sure when upgrading these to TMCC it involved switching out the chassis or modifying the present one for a speaker.  I think TA studios was doing conversions at the time. Still looking at the construction in the picture that features a die cast chassis without a removable tank. It looks like the speaker is the first thing that goes into the build and everything else goes over it.

@Dave_C posted:

Ron, I noticed it has a TAS board. If it’s from the very first run. I’m not sure what they had as far as features or even sound. They didn’t come with TMCC as I don’t think Lionel was licensing then. They may have been using Dallee.  I’m pretty sure when upgrading these to TMCC it involved switching out the chassis or modifying the present one for a speaker.  I think TA studios was doing conversions at the time. Still looking at the construction in the picture that features a die cast chassis without a removable tank. It looks like the speaker is the first thing that goes into the build and everything else goes over it.

I don't know anything about Lionel stuff.  All I can tell you is my son loaded it into his Legacy as a TMCC engine and ran it with the Legacy remote.  It ran for a day and then the speaker got cracked noise like it blew.

I actually want to sell the guts but wanted to take a video of it running with sounds to prove it worked.

I will be gutting it.  It just seems terrible that I would have to practically gut it to replace the speaker just to remove everything again to sell it.

Ron

Ron, I’m not computer savvy at posting links.  Google.  Atlas SW8 TMCC Upgrade and there’s  some links that pop up that may help.

@Ron045 posted:

I don't know anything about Lionel stuff.  All I can tell you is my son loaded it into his Legacy as a TMCC engine and ran it with the Legacy remote.  It ran for a day and then the speaker got cracked noise like it blew.

I actually want to sell the guts but wanted to take a video of it running with sounds to prove it worked.

I will be gutting it.  It just seems terrible that I would have to practically gut it to replace the speaker just to remove everything again to sell it.

Ron

Just to prove it works? Unplug/cut the speaker wires, 2sided tape another speaker, literally anywhere, and wire it up.

If you have engine rollers, do this:

Time and patience.    Not an easy project.   Can be done without a complete dis-assembly.  The small, 8 ohm speaker, has two attachment screws.  Hood off, the TMCC board assembly and mounting brackets have to be loose, to move, left, and/or right, to access the mounting screws.   Have fun. 

(1.) Early Atlas SW9's, with Dallee electronics, had a speaker mounted front top of the engine compartment.

(2.) TMCC, Lionel licensed, generic sound system, the speaker was located in the fuel tank.  Early fuel tank speakers tended to fail, since the sound, came on, at full volume, and had to be turned down with the Handheld remote.  Later wafer, 8 ohm speakers were much better, IMO,  Mike CT.   

@Boilermaker1 posted:

Just to prove it works? Unplug/cut the speaker wires, 2sided tape another speaker, literally anywhere, and wire it up.

If you have engine rollers, do this:

Thanks.  I will give this a try.  I like the Blunami setup in your video.  That is what is going in this engine.

Is there a market for these old boards?  What is the approximate value?  Not looking to make a killing, just want someone to have it who can use it.

@Ron045 posted:

The speaker is in the fuel tank, but the fuel tank appears to be molded with the frame.

It appears the only way to get to the speaker is to remove the TMCC board and the motor.  And to do that it looks like I have to remove the trucks.

It appears to be a complete disassembly.  That can't be right.  What am I overlooking?

Welcome to Atlas maintenance!   That's how it works, and the little flat speaker that Atlas uses in those switches fails pretty often!  I think it's a 1/2W or less speaker and I've probably replaced at least a dozen of them.  The problem is they're not that loud at max volume, so that's how they're always run.  You need to budget some time to disassemble the whole stinkin' engine to get to it!

@Boilermaker1 posted:

Just to prove it works? Unplug/cut the speaker wires, 2sided tape another speaker, literally anywhere, and wire it up.

If you have engine rollers, do this:

Thanks again @Boilermaker1.  That was the easiest way to get the engine running to setup a quick video so I could put the board up for sale.

I replaced the speaker in mine a few months ago. Atlas told me the speaker was an upgrade and I was told to keep the plug on the old speaker because the new one was not compatible. Small screwdrivers required!

Terry