Lionel 28637 Hudson stopped running

First off, use Lionel support. I don't mean call them, but at least use the site for information specific to your model.

https://www.lionelsupport.com/...-4-6-4-HUDSON-JR-673

Beiing a Hudson JR- definitely a DC can motor.

This likely cooked- easy fix to upgrade to TIP41 and TIP42 transistors (from 31 and 32 respectively)- if you work on electronics.

@lionelflyer posted:

The above engine suddenly stopped running.  Light and smoke still work.  Either the board or the motor itself burned out as far as I can tell.  Can someone tell me if the can motor is ac or dc?  I want to put power directly to it to see if it will run but don't want to use the wrong power source.  If the motor runs, then I'll have to assume the board is dead.  I'm not an electronics person so if it is a dead board, the engine itself will be sent to the happy fairgrounds at York.

Thanks for any help.

All can motors are DC powered. Have you checked the linkage and wheels to be sure nothing is binding or caught in them?

Again, sorry you have a problem but this is a common problem that walks into the local shop near weekly.

Lionel used that common reverse board with NO heatsinks on the transistors. As your motor draws more amperage they heat up and eventually go into thermal runaway.

Hi Vernon & Iguanaman,

I did check for something binding and will check the motor itself with a DC power source to make sure I didn't burn that out.

It makes sense that the transistors probably burned out.  I was using the engine to pull a rather large consist of postwar rolling stock.  As we all know, "rolling" is a misnomer when compared to modern cars with fast angle wheels.

It looks like I can buy the transistors I need on line for about $6.50 delivered so I may just attempt to replace them. I have a soldering iron with adjustable heat. I wish my son was around to hold my hand while doing this since he is an EE and has probably done this before.

LionelFlyer

Also note, when the original TIP31 and TIP32 pairs fail, they can take out the KSP13 smaller transistors that drives each pair. Most of the time- everything else on the board survives the failure and is fine.

TIP41 and TIP42 are higher rated (current rating is higher) and since we use them as switches (full OFF or Full ON) we just want the least resistance for the least heating and least chance of thermal runaway.

If he's an EE, then he would understand this is an H-bridge and everything I said about thermal runaway.

I'm going to stop by my local electronics parts store to see if I can get all the parts you suggest.  By any chance, do you know if the entire board is available?  I don't see that part on the Lionel parts website.

I tried putting DC power directly to the can motor but I'm not seeing it turning.  It was a Lionel HO powerpack so perhaps not enough power.  I'll try something a little larger later.

I was able to release the board and it is marked 600-0103-001.  There appear to be 4 transistors (2 each) and they are marked

CSD   880Y M4

CDIL TIP32C M4

I have no idea as to the differences.

The board itself was mounted on to a plastic "backboard" which does show signs of having experienced a lot of heat.

At this point, I'm thinking I should just dump the engine "as-is" at York since I didn't want it anyway.  It has the wrong tender with it.  I think it should say Union Pacific but this one is marked Wabash.  It came with a layout that I purchased but I intend to use all postwar equipment on this layout.  I've already replaced it with a nice Lionel 2056.

An HO powerpack should provide enough power, because for all intents and purposes that tiny flat-sided Igarachi is an HO-sized motor!  After yours was made Lionel wised up a little, and released a traditional-sized Hudson packing the ubiquitous Mabuchi RS-385PH.  This successor model has returned to their product lineup several times, most recently with LionChief Plus 2.0.  There's nothing wrong with using a modern loco to pull Postwar cars.  Just don't send a boy to do a man's job!

@lionelflyer posted:

I was able to release the board and it is marked 600-0103-001.  There appear to be 4 transistors (2 each) and they are marked

CSD   880Y M4

CDIL TIP32C M4

I have no idea as to the differences.

The CSD 880Y M4 is the same as the TIP31C, and I like the idea of replacing those with the TIP41C and TIP42C if you're fixing the board.

Obviously, if the motor doesn't run when directly powered with a DC supply, that's the first thing to address!