Lionel 8632 engine running issues

Can you measure the DC voltage at the actual motor in each direction at the same throttle position? (I'm looking to evaluate components of the electronic e-unit board with this test)

I’m relatively new to the hobby. How would I measure the DC voltage in each direction?

Unfortunately, the reverse units do go bad after being cycled & shocked w/ transients while running & during derailments. The damage is cumulative, and is just a question of when they will give out.  If the CMOS chip is toast, so is the board, but the power transistors, Q1-Q2 (TIP31) NPN, and Q3-Q4 (TIP32) PNP can be replaced easily... they are prone to fail with overloads on the motor... lots of heat, and sometimes popping open.

With your multimeter set for DC voltage, probe the solder connections circled in red while applying track AC power to the frame and center rail collector. The motor should spin and you should get a DC volt reading. Then using the direction button, press it to change direction of the motor and then again read the DC voltage.

Small alligator jumper wires can help with all of the connections. You can also remove the motor from the frame with the two screws on the opposite side (disconnecting it from the wheel gear train).

What usually happens with those type of engines is the motor goes bad and then takes out the electronic reverse board. Is the black tape on the power transistors melted?

The black tape isn’t melted and the unit appears to be in overall excellent shape. Last night I did major maintenance/cleaning on the Fastrack reverse loop I am running around the tree. I even added a CW-80 to give it move power. Same problems with the engine. I can run a MTH PCC trolly with no problems but the engine keeps randomly stopping.

Bmoran4, I have to get some alligator clips. Do I just NBC on next those to the transformer to test the motor?

And is there a standard “fix” that I can try. It sounds like parts for these engines are pretty cheap so that might be easier than figuring out how to test for the problem.

Well, if you have done your due diligence on electrical conductivity (track cleaning, clean wheels and pickups, no obvious broken wires and no obvious physical deformities etc) there really there are only two major components to suspect:

• The reverse board part 610-0103-100
  • https://www.lionelsupport.com/...00103100&match=0
• The motor part 600-8008-105
  • https://www.lionelsupport.com/...08008105&match=0

It took it apart and there were no obvious issues. Cleaned the track really well. I will clean the pickups and wheels again but they aren’t that dirty so I doubt that is the problem.

Having some bad engine luck this weekend. I wanted to replace the broken engine on the Christmas layout and have an old K-line switcher I bought six months ago. It was working when I put it away but now when I add power it just lights up, buzzes and shakes in place. Any ideas?

Sounds like the motors are getting AC voltage instead of DC. If the engine hasn't been tinkered with the reverse board may have gone bad.

Any suggestions on where to get a reverse board?

@GG14449 posted:

Any suggestions on where to get a reverse board?

Someone already linked it above for the lionel engine. You may want to start a new thread for the kline to keep things clear.

Reverse board for the steamer was highlighted above:

@bmoran4 posted:

• The reverse board part 610-0103-100
  • https://www.lionelsupport.com/...00103100&match=0

For the switcher, Brasseur has the K-Line parts:

• Parts List
  • https://traindoctor.com/service/kline/kline.php
• Parts Help Contact
  • https://traindoctor.com/klineinfo.asp
  • (989) 793-4753

@GG14449 posted:

Having some bad engine luck this weekend. I wanted to replace the broken engine on the Christmas layout and have an old K-line switcher I bought six months ago. It was working when I put it away but now when I add power it just lights up, buzzes and shakes in place. Any ideas?

It looks like this might be one of the unusual single-motored S-2 switchers from a DC set... did it run with a power supply you got with it or some other power pack?