| Return Create A Forum - Home | |
| --------------------------------------------------------- | |
| Lionel Trains | |
| https://lioneltrains.createaforum.com | |
| --------------------------------------------------------- | |
| ***************************************************** | |
| Return to: Beginners Q & A | |
| ***************************************************** | |
| #Post#: 2396-------------------------------------------------- | |
| Hi buzzing older unit | |
| By: Monstrosity89 Date: May 7, 2020, 8:23 pm | |
| --------------------------------------------------------- | |
| Hello I'm Jon found old locos in the house and have been living | |
| on ebay picking up cars and locos. I'm running 027 track with a | |
| basic transformer. I have a ZW but its internally shorted I | |
| believe and would like to fix it! But on another note.... a | |
| older Burlington Northern engine I took apart cleaned up | |
| serviced oiled all contacts and the "magneto controller" correct | |
| me if I'm wrong is buzzing very loudly when running. Is there a | |
| way to quite that controller or a way to upgrade this unit with | |
| a circuit board?... My son recently got me wanting to get into | |
| this more with his fascination for model trains went to the | |
| Strasburg RR Muesume and he lost his mind lol he's 2 and the | |
| buzzing just makes him lose interest. | |
| Sorry rambling thank you in advance. | |
| I have searched for a similar topic and haven't come across a | |
| similar topic | |
| #Post#: 2397-------------------------------------------------- | |
| Re: Hi buzzing older unit | |
| By: TrainLarry Date: May 8, 2020, 6:51 am | |
| --------------------------------------------------------- | |
| Welcome to the forum! Glad to hear that you are getting | |
| interested in Lionel trains. | |
| First, what is the number of your locomotive? This helps us | |
| research it to get you answers. | |
| It sounds like the buzzing you hear is from what is called an | |
| 'E' unit which is an electro-mechanical switch that is used to | |
| reverse the direction of the locomotive. The buzzing is normal, | |
| and some say adds to the charm of these older locomotives. | |
| There is a lever sticking out of the loco, either on the top, or | |
| the bottom, depending on your exact loco. This lever is from the | |
| 'E' unit, and if you get the loco going forward, pushing the | |
| lever will lock it into that direction. If the 'E' unit is not | |
| locked, the loco will cycle in the | |
| Forward-Neutral-Reverse-Neutral sequence every time power is | |
| interrupted. | |
| There are electronic reverse units you can purchase if you want | |
| to replace the 'E' unit with one, but you may have to do a | |
| custom installation if you are up to it. | |
| The ZW transformer may need routine service of replacing the | |
| rollers and probably the AC cord. The circuit breaker may need | |
| replacing also. | |
| Make sure you clean the track, roller pickups and wheels on the | |
| loco and all rolling stock with Naphtha to get rid of all dirt | |
| and gunk that will inhibit good performance. | |
| Visiting the Strasburg Railroad museum many years ago was a | |
| highlight of my life. I remember looking at the Big Boy and | |
| imagining what it was like to see and hear one of them pulling a | |
| long train battling Sherman Hill. | |
| Hope this helps, | |
| Larry | |
| ***************************************************** |