Lionel Scale J Pilot #6-11413
This engine has been a great runner but recently the tender sounds have started cutting out. I’d like some advice on where to troubleshoot this problem. Initially I thought it was dirty track but after cleaning, the problem still persists. I hit the reset button and sounds come back, then after awhile they drop to silence. Help!
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Try putting in a YLB.
Dirty track is one thing but are the pickup rollers and wheels/axle wipers on the tender also clean?'
There's also the possibility that maybe a wire came loose somewhere and is making intermittent contact with where it should be soldered.
Try a 9 volt battery and if that works, then buy the YLB from Henning's which was designed by Gunrunnerjohn. It's a non battery but works like one as far as the sound is concerned. Also, you will be looking at the guts in the tender and can reseat the sound card. However do NOT remove the chips on the sound card (which is also sometimes required to be reseated) without the proper tool, or you will break the socket for sure.
The battery or YLB rechargeable capacitor circuit is intended for the continuation of sounds when power is interrupted intentionally (such as sequencing the e-unit conventionally or shutting down the locomotive). It can also be useful for short (less than one second) power interruptions from isolated layout trouble spots.
It is not intended as a fix for a locomotive that is losing sounds frequently and all over the layout. The fix lies elsewhere.
Yes, cleaning the track and the locomotive pickup rollers and wheels is the first step in troubleshooting. After that, it’s a matter of checking the wiring and boards to look for obvious flaws. Hopefully, that takes care of the problem, because from there the troubleshooting becomes more complex.
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