Lionel 11154 Vision Line Mallet Locomotive with No Sounds

You need to obtain a PLCC chip extractor and reseat the two chips on the RS5 board, that's a very common issue with older boards.  Do NOT try to reseat those chips without the correct tool, you'll crack the PLCC socket and then you need a new board.

Wow, that was quick.

I own the MTH version of the chip extractor from when we used to pull the sound chips out of PS locomotives and use the force chip to reset them. Is this tool safe to use on the Lionel board? It looks the same as the images I found for some of the PLCC chip extractors.

Yep, there's only one common PLCC chip extractor.  I use mine on those boards and PS/1 boards.

All you have to do is move the chip up in the socket, then press it back down.  The object of the exercise is to scuff off the oxidation between the pins and socket.

Thank you again. Would painting the prongs with a swab dipped in Deox-It hurt? Or is that a good idea.

It certainly won't hurt, not a bad idea.  I've never personally done that, so I don't know how much it would actually help.

I'll give it a try over the weekend and let you know how it goes.

OK, I am a kid at heart and could not wait. WE HAVE SOUNDS. Big, beautiful Fat Boy speakers sounds! I got the smaller chip to move and reseated it a couple of times.  I could not get the larger chip to even wiggle and feared I might damage it with more force. So I simply dripped the cleaner (very conservatively) along the borders of the chip where the prongs fit into the board. Put it all back together and all the sounds are clear as can be.

Still learning from the masters.

I cannot thank you enough in a simple post. It is amazing that it was so simple once you find someone who has the knowledge. Thank you to Gunrunnerjohn.

@ChuckB posted:

I cannot thank you enough in a simple post. It is amazing that it was so simple once you find someone who has the knowledge. Thank you to Gunrunnerjohn.

Love the simple ones that don't cost anything to boot.