s-3 lasted 45 seconds updated 1-15-2012 with a video

Sorry to hear of your troubles. I would send Mike Reagan a note, he will make it right. Sounds like your motherboard is kaput, there maybe a short.
Let me know what you find. I may be buying a new motherboard just to have one on hand.

I hope this wasnt going to be a Christmas gift.. Sorry that your engine is a dud.

to 92hatchattack,

no this wasn't a Christmas gift but will be a new years gift as am sure won't see it until 2012 again.

I called customer service\tech ran a few quick reset steps no joy so they emailed a ra# and shipped via fedex should be in ohio friday.

crazy thing is smoke started to work again then quit all on its own so this baby is going to be in backshops for an electrical overhaul.

when I get it back I'll do a video as I have a surprise for all.

$oo

Your not going to leap your S-3 over snake river canyon ala Evil Kneivil are you?

Someone mixed up your order with Scrapiron's. He normally gets the ones with 45 second lifetimes.

Sorry to hear - it would be nice if they could get a grasp on quality control before releasing anything else as this seems to be the normal with Lionel these days.

humor intended here as you gotta laugh sometimes when things don't go well!

my engine went snap crackle pop just like a box of

Rice Crispies, LOL $oo

Surprise? What surprise? You can't just say that to us and expect us to sit here and take it. Need a hint at least. Spill the beans man!

Soo Line

with my S-3, the smoke would start and stop after a while, then resume, etc during the first two-three days of operation. I did see some fluid in the bottom of the stack when the smoke stop occurred. Blowing into the stack would start it again.

I can tell you that after a few days of operation, I have not experienced this smoke behavior. Does not stop smoking when running now.

to 92hatchattack,

here's the hint---- there awesome!

until I get the 261 back we all have to wait if no electronic boards available maybe longer than I hoped for.

now seeing as your waiting to run your locomotive just think 6 more days sure shorter than my wait! $oo

Im not sure, but there shouldn't be a wait. I think that Lionel gets its spare parts from whole engines they get, and then they tear them down.

I was the first person on the forum to get my K4 which was defective. I mailed it out the next day and had it back a week later with a replaced pilot truck from spare parts i guess. I would assume that Lionel has these in stock already....

And your clue sucked. I have no idea... lol

Just for fun, does anyones smoke unit make a gurgling noise sometimes?

Seems to me much of the smoke problems described here are meniscus forming. Every time my smoke has stopped it has been cleared with a blow down the stack. I have had zero problems with the cylinder effect on either the S3 or the Texas. (let me knock on wood)

I had so much smoke coming from the Texas on Saturday night, I thought they were going to chase me out of the train room.

As to minisus I did blow down stack till blue in face! No joy yet fan works as could feel air coming out of stack so think that in itself says no blockage.

That's the best hint I can give as you folks are smart!!

As to turn time it won't be in Ohio till Friday and with the holidays on both weekends figure it will be a tad longer than expected and with more issues than at first thought even tech said no to taking to local shop as they want to see first hand all that's going on with this engine. $oo

Hope they turn it around quick and fixed up for you Soo.

Well I'll just have to run the 765 and que rich to add his yarn and just enjoy what I have. $oo

Soo,

Good luck. I'm sure you'll get it back quick as they know this is the season.

Keep us posted.

Mike R

Ps...Surprise?!?! Could be some "prototype" passenger cars?!?!

I just watched video on Lionel web site with Mike explaining re-setting of factory code in locomotive. It sure sounds like the trouble you are explaining when code is not correct. Just a thought.

TEX
Steve

Can you give me the video name to look for would like to see myself. The tech had me do a add engine id# and a aux1 and #1 key then issued an ra#. $oo

We don't hear about the things that don't break as often as those that do,
of course, but why is a smoke unit so hard to build, really? That is to
say, the part that smokes - not the chuff, synchronization, and so forth -
but the it-gets-a-little-light-oil-hot part? Seuthe does it - and that technology
is not rocket science. This continuing battle with the elemental (pardon) issue
of smoke being produced is just a little lame. Really. Re-invent the wheel, much?
Gah!

I do not mind locos with no smoke units. I do mind those with broken ones. Expectation
and disappointment is much worse than never-had-it.

Sounds like one or most of my recent purchases. Sorry to hear the news.

Good luck with the repair, is this a legacy engine? If so, I believe they cover the return shipping which is a help.

Lyinel, my first problem so can't complain just one of those things.

I have the Evo and gs-4 have been great and the 765 only problem was a bad chip since then it too has been flawless.

I have to say seems like each year the sounds get better and better.

$oo

Misery loves company I also called in today for an RA #. Sending my 261 in tommorrow.... No cylinder smoke after trying every trick in the book. I should just run it through Christmas without this feature but it really bugs me to have something new that isn't working like it should....especially this particular engine.

The lady in customer service at Lionel told me they're backed up in repairs 4 weeks or more? Oh well....good time to finish my new freight yard....I guess.

quote:

Originally posted by 92hatchattack:
Just for fun, does anyones smoke unit make a gurgling noise sometimes?

Mine does... Sounds like a coffee maker.

Ben

Mine too. Then it went to popping and sputtering.
When I called to order a new board, the Lionel tech said none are available


I think my stack fan had a loose connector.

Mine is running well and performs as advertised.

Well I'm unfortunate to have a problem with mine also. Will not accept commands unless I cover the cab with my hand or hold on to one of the side rails. Very annoying once again to have to go through this. Probably a simple repair but time consuming under warranty.

Joe

That sounds like the antenna wire is loose, might be an easy fix.

The antenna is on the two hand rails above the cab for this locomotive.
You have a grounded antenna. Could be the hand rails touching the cab or one of the grab irons is not isolated, not a fun fix.

my tis the season!! I received an e-mail from lionel saying my milwaukee road s-3 engine was received today.
my that was a quick 3 day ship seeing as I sent it out monday at about noon time.

hope to see it back as quick but then again have waited since 2010 catalog so guess a few more weeks won't hurt. $oo

$oo Line I had an MTH RS-3 that was DOA on my layout. The LHS, though NOT an authorized MTH warranty station, repaired it as I waited. Later, MTH offered me a new engine. Dissapointment followed by good stuff all the way around. Hope yours get back sooooon.

quote:

Originally posted by J Daddy:
The antenna is on the two hand rails above the cab for this locomotive.
You have a grounded antenna. Could be the hand rails touching the cab or one of the grab irons is not isolated, not a fun fix.

Spoke to a lionel tech today and received an r.a. to send back for the antenna problem. Easy fix or difficult better to let them repair under warranty.
One thing though, from the looks of the package when received. I wouldn't put it past the shipping company from banging it around to be the cause.
Another reason why I'll never use them for shipping.

great news I received an email from lionel repair s-3 is being shipped back today hot digity dog.

$oo

I have another kind of S-3 problem.

Sounds (talk and chuff) suddenly quits while running. Stop and a reset restores full sounds. Happens in both TMCC an Legacy. Forward and reverse. Very sporatic. Going back to my store tomorrow.

quote:

Originally posted by Robert Shaw:
I have another kind of S-3 problem.

Sounds (talk and chuff) suddenly quits while running. Stop and a reset restores full sounds. Happens in both TMCC an Legacy. Forward and reverse. Very sporatic. Going back to my store tomorrow.

Bob, Do you have a solid alignment with the IR tether? Just a thought.

Check the IR tether alignment.

quote:

Originally posted by Robert Shaw:
I have another kind of S-3 problem.

Sounds (talk and chuff) suddenly quits while running. Stop and a reset restores full sounds. Happens in both TMCC an Legacy. Forward and reverse. Very sporatic. Going back to my store tomorrow.

There was a post on the tmcc/legacy forum where someone kept losing sound on only their new s3 in the same spot,wound up being dirty track,if that helps any.

quote:

Originally posted by Robert Shaw:
I have another kind of S-3 problem.

Sounds (talk and chuff) suddenly quits while running. Stop and a reset restores full sounds. Happens in both TMCC an Legacy. Forward and reverse. Very sporatic. Going back to my store tomorrow.

Mine did that going over a certain switch. I put a battery in the tender and it made it over that without losing sounds.

it's baaaack! I received my 261 from Lionel repair thursday added smoke fluid twice that day let it sit over night get up for work add more smoke fluid come home has been sitting for 38hrs so get brave time to stoke the fire.

turn power on let legacy base do it's thing then select engine #61 then start nothing ok they reset to engine id #1 so pull cover off switches set to program enter id# 61 and set button poof accepts new id#.

reset switch to run try bell hey it works brave now try whistle wow lasted longer than first time I'm on a roll now so turn throttle to a whopping 2 miles per hour moves 1 1\2" sound goes quiet and engine stops dead in it's tracks

hmmm?? do the shut down re address engine comes on and lights move throttle to 2 miles per hour moves another 1 1\2" same thing hmmm??

so instead of turning off push the big R button on cab-2 key pad stands for reset ha sounds are back engine moves same as before 1 1\2" then dies.

so hit the big R again at this stage one of two things are certain either it moves or shipped back for a refund!

no messing around push speed button on cab-2 push on medium speed this time she stays moving and sounds stay on have been running for an hour now at high speed to medium speed to slow speed so far it is working.

so maybe just needs broken in what do you think fellow legacy engine owners?

if anyone has mike r email can you PM it to me so I can discuss this with him direct, Thank You

$oo

M (as in Mike)
Reagan (as in Ronald)
@
Lionel.com

in the meantime give them a call