R2LC Repair

The list price at Lionel for an R2LCC08 board is $40.00 plus $10.00 shipping.   I don't know if you can find someone to repair it for less than that.

Not all failures are repairable. If your lights, couplers or smoke unit doesn't work then maybe. If your engines doesn't move or you are not getting sound then maybe not repairable. Also the latter two may not be the R2LC. Whats not working?

Pete

Nothing is. Thought maybe if I could get it repaired, I could have a spare. 

They do fail. I have few dead ones. If its the processor or related I am pretty sure its not repairable at least at a figure that makes sense. I can tell you even Lionel techs don't make component level repair and specifically told not to. If you put it aside you can get them half price next fall when they have their open house. Even if it turns out to be a virtual open house I suspect the half price parts deal will still be offered.

Pete

Thanks Pete ! Who does that Lionel ? I have an aunt in Charlotte, NC and we drive practically next door as we approach there. 

In the past the LCCA has been part of the open house. LCCA members can actually get in a day early vs non members. I have not attended since they moved to NC. Too far for me to make sense. Maybe you have a dealer or service center near you. That way you might at least save on shipping.

Pete

I fix the common stuff, that's smoke, lights, and couplers.  I've also replaced the 5V regulator on a couple.  When it gets past that, I just order a spare from Lionel.

Ok John  & Pete,

it’s actually closer for me to Concord, NC , than to Roanoke , Va . Knoxville, TN is a pill . I’d probably just get a new one, besides that’s an excuse to go down there. 

unfortunately we have nothing as far as service centers around my area . 

I smoked one by plugging it in one pin off once...

Chuck, I've been there, done that as well.   That one didn't survive the experience!

If you plug R2LC pins 1-2 into the connector 3-4 it will likely be OK but not the other way around. Ahem....speaking from experience.

Pete

Obviously, mine was the other way.  The magic smoke curled out and it was toast!  On the bright side, it didn't take anything with it, so I just replaced it and moved on.  That's the kind of stuff that happens when you've had the shell off half a dozen times and you're getting a little annoyed that there's still a problem!  I should walk away for a spell when those things happen, live and learn.

You didn't specify what engine it is. If it is a early TMCC diesel, it could be a broken wire on the pick-up collector if everything is dead.

That's the kind of stuff that happens when you've had the shell off half a dozen times and you're getting a little annoyed that there's still a problem!  I should walk away for a spell when those things happen, live and learn.

I wish I could learn to do that.

Ray

Ryan "S",

This is the ( 5th) time in some 18 years since I have been involved in this T.M.C.C stuff, and each time I swore " I'm never going to get back into it because of this very reason". But , I always do. This is the 2nd time I've owned this particular locomotive ( 6-38616), and both times it started with a smoke resistor issue. Yet, here I am. there's just something fun about being " retro" with the old TMCC. 

I have at least as many issues with newer locomotives and smoke, there's nothing special about TMCC that makes them less reliable.

@Norton posted:

If you plug R2LC pins 1-2 into the connector 3-4 it will likely be OK but not the other way around. Ahem....speaking from experience.

Pete

 

Good to know I am not alone! Embarrassingly I once plugged one in off by a whole row of pins. When I discovered that, I thought "there goes that R2LC" But surprisingly all I had to do was reprogram the engine ID. All was good. Now I am real careful to make sure they are plugged in right!

Rod