Lionel recently sent me part # 691DCDSFP6 (ODYSSEY 1 MOTOR DRIVER/PITMAN TYPE) for my 4-8-2 Pennsylvania steamer 6-38056, which needs a new motor driver circuit board. I have never replaced a circuit board, nor have I opened up an engine as complex as this one. If anyone has experience with this engine, please let me know what I need to do (and look for) after removing the three body screws that, according to the owner's manual, begin the process of opening up this engine.
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Dumb question, how do you know it needs that board?
Long story, John. As I increase the track voltage to get the engine moving (around 8 to 9 volts), the green marker lights begin to flicker. Around 10 or 11 volts, the engine starts to jerk forward about an inch at a time. Once I raise the power above 10 or 11 volts, the engine takes off in a jack rabbit start. As long as I keep the power above 11 volts the engine runs OK. Once I slow it down, however, and the power gets back around 10 or 11 volts, the engine comes to an abrupt stop.
When I described this problem to the ebay seller I bought the engine from, he contacted someone knowledgeable in model train repair who told him it needed a new motor driver board. At the seller's expense, he had Lionel ship me the new board, giving me the option of replacing the old board myself or sending the engine and new board back to him and he would have the engine put in good running order, again at his expense.
What I need to do now is figure out if I'm up to the task of taking this engine apart, replacing the board, and successfully putting the engine back together again.
Send the engine back, there's no certainty that it's the board, and if you have a problem getting it in, you may end up with an expensive paperweight! Why would you roll the dice any other way?
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