This was a huge undertaking to say the least. This engine is known to have many issues with the original electronics,it also went to Lionel many times in it's life. I received it many months ago with a multitude of problems.
ISSUES, Bad DCDS motor driver, RCDR radio receiver, smoke fan control, bell coil drive, damaged bell coil, motor sensor board, cracked front carriage frame, and cracked front carriage bottom plate. Most of the wiring was brittle and the smoke units were totally clogged.
THE FIX, gutted all electronics, installed new front carriage and frame, completely rebuild smoke units, all new wiring, installed much better electronics such as an RCMC driver board , motor sensor board, bell coil drive. Since the parts are different i had to make brackets and move things around to make everything fit properly.
This engine originally came with main stack smoke , whistle smoke , and blow down smoke. I decided to only use the main stack smoke and whistle smoke, because to use the blow down i needed a smoke fan control board. IMO it would have turned into what it was originally, ...10 pounds of potatoes in a 5 pound bag LOL. Plus there was no more room inside the boiler to fit the smoke fan control. Not to mention more heat.
NOTE- Unfortunately the bell coil is a bit screwed up , so i only get a half and sometimes three quarter swing of the bell.
It now has life again!!
Pictures and video to follow!
Thanks for looking, Alex
