Lionel 18006 sound question

You might have to check either the board or speaker. I've had to replace a couple speakers in RailSounds 1.0 locos like the T-1.

If it's the board, you might get lucky if someone has a spare lying around, but if that's the case you'll likely have to get a new, up to date board.

I recommend a Dallee sound unit with a Reading G-3 whistle for passenger service or an I-10sa whistle for freight service.

Reading Steam Guru painted and detailed my T-1 as 2124, the locomotive that headed the first Iron Horse Rambles (1959-1961) and is now displayed by the parking lot at Steamtown. Wowak added full working Walschaerts valve gear, a scale pilot coupler, a scale whistle, and other details. Jeffrey Steinbacher of J.D.S. Limited Productions replaced the smoke unit with a fan-driven unit. While he was in there he also installed a LED headlight. BIG improvements!

Here is the manual

Thank you both.  I opened it up and the board was loose, not in the bracket.  I tried to find a parts list on Lionel for both the speaker and board but 18006 shows 0, for some reason it won't come up.

Nick

I think, but am not certain, that there is an on/off switch under the tender for the sound. Before going off into expensive upgrades, I would make certain that the board is getting power, and just connect a temporary speaker, to see if the speaker is bad. The wiring is all soldered at the back of the motor, I can round up a home made diagram to show which wires go where. LMK.

I forgot to mention that the male and female plugs sometimes don't make proper contact. Your local electronics store should be able to furnish a four wire male and female plug set. 

I did use the on off switch.  Can I use a tester to see if power is going through the switch and if so how would I go about doing that?

Thanks

Nick

Here you go from Lionel

Engine

https://www.lionelsupport.com/...161-8006Complete.pdf

Tender

https://www.lionelsupport.com/...8006-T01Complete.pdf

Manual

https://www.lionelsupport.com/...ents/71-8006-250.pdf

Thanks Benny, for some reason I'm not getting notified of replies and that's why I'm late getting back.  Anyway I tried to get those through Lionel by searching 18006 and notice these are 8006?  I'm attaching two photos, you'll notice there are only two wires on the on/off switch, does that and everything else look kosher or does it look like the wiring has been altered?

Thanks

Nick

Any observation on this?

Nick,

I have both of the Lionel T-1's (Reading & Chessie Steam Special). I had a problem a couple of years back with the CSS. I had a board donated to me by another forum member. If you need it I will pass it on to you.

However, it appears that the tether has been worked on. Can you get a couple of pictures of the rest of the cable and connector. The tether is where I had my problem. It took some work, but I did get it fixed. I will see if I still have the pictures and add them later when I get home.

Nick,

Here are a few pictures from the tether repair I did to my CSS T-1. It should also be noted that the tether on the Reading T-1 and CSS T-1 were different from each other. The tether on the CSS T-1 is like MTH Proto series tethers.

The other thing I would do is use a multi-meter to trace and test each wire from the pin/receptacle to the board and make sure there is continuity at all four.

Since my issue ended up being the engine side, I used a slightly 'heavier' gauge wire than was originally installed. I also deleted the 90 degree shell on the receptacle. The wiring came from a computer sound board cable I had in my spare parts box.

Henry, sorry I'm late replying I didn't get a notification again.  Anyway, thank you for the info and photos.  I tried to tighten everything up and put a bulb in the socket and after putting it back together everything is now working as it should, it runs and sounds great.

I'm am not good with  electronic, I am strictly old school conventional.  Thank you once again for your help.

Nick

Check the tether wires.  The insulation gets stiff over time, and can break next to the plug.  Don't ask me how I know.