Lionel Tugboat sound repair

It has been awhile since I had this apart.  Just follow the speaker wires back to the sound board.  The sound board is still available (cs-691ISNDCTB-p) but I would check the speaker first.  Try any other 8 ohm speaker.  If it is the speaker, you will have to improvise because it is discontinued.

product number https://www.lionelsupport.com/...o-Railroad-Tugboats-6-14180

@Magicland posted:

Took out the sound and regulator PCB (the yellow card with all the hot glue), and there's nothing under that either. Does anyone know where the sound card is? Or have any idea what I need to replace to get the sound working again?

That's because THAT IS THE SOUNDBOARD!!! It's a combined unit.

This is the die on PCB "soundboard" blob chip vertical riser style.

That’s it.

I had swapped the pancake speaker out for conventional 50mm speaker because of the poor sound.  It required some modification to the mounting.  While I was at it, I added a volume control since none was provided.  I adjusted the volume and left the pot inside so there was no need to poke a hole in the deck.

I did this 3 or 4 years ago so it’s a little fuzzy.

Lionel also lists a PCB soundboard that is in addition to what is mentioned above.  Not sure why. Did Lionel make a change over time? Can these tugboats be modified to use this board?  Again, not sure how these were used or in what models. 

@Vernon Barry posted:

product number https://www.lionelsupport.com/...o-Railroad-Tugboats-6-14180

That's because THAT IS THE SOUNDBOARD!!! It's a combined unit.

This is the die on PCB "soundboard" blob chip vertical riser style.

I'll check the speaker first, since that board isn't available. They show the later(?) separate sound board as noted in another reply, but I assume that's an error. If the speaker is good, would it be possible to use the cs-691ISNDCTB-p board with the cs-6204109110-p sound and regulator board, which is available?

My Santa Fe tug is the 2004 generation while the B&O is the 2003 generation.  There is no difference between them.  Lionel lists the PCB regulator and sound board (which is everything including unavailable) but also lists the sound board, separately, which is available.  Typically, I would look at mine but it is in the middle of my waterfront scene so I am disinclined to pull it apart.

Start with trying a different speaker.  If that doesn't work, take a picture of the front side of the sound board so we can see how it is connected.  It appears to be held vertically by a glob of hot glue.

Let us know how you make out.

Thought I had another 8 ohm speaker handy, but it turned out to be only 4 ohms, so I still haven't checked. I'll have to dig through my parts and see if there's a speaker lurking somewhere. Did some other work on the tugboat though...

It's no longer B&O. And I toned down Lionel's bright blue water a bit, guess they've never seen the pristine waters of NY harbor. Put see-through windows in the pilot house, grain of wheat LEDs in the starboard and port markers (to be hooked up later), a 3 LED light strip in the pilot house (also to be hooked up later) which will get a floor for the pilot and wheel figure to be mounted on once final modifications are done...

Really nice job on that repaint.