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This is a heads up for some of you guys with older engines with the electronic horn installed. Many of these old engines have the circuit board mounted on an adhesive foam pad and I have found more often than not, the foam has turned to dust. This will allow the circuit board to contact the metal frame and short out resulting in a fried board. So if you have one of these and are thinking of running it, it might be a good idea to remove the shell and check it prior to powering it up. Some new foam or sticky back velcro will do the trick on insulating it from the frame. The circuit boards are still available from some parts vendors but it is probably a limited resource. Of course there is always the option of upgrading to a new rail sounds board.

 

 

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I have one of those old horn kits if anyone wants it.  Never installed (or even unwrapped because I was underwhelmed by the first one installed back in the mid-80's), includes circuit board, speaker and wired pickup roller (the separate adhesive foam pad is not quite dust as tontee described but not in usable condition). 

 

Update:  horn kit has been claimed.

Last edited by hobby-go-lucky

Wow, thanks everyone! I always wanted to add a separate horn button to my layout. Looks like it's gonna happen asap.

 ---Does anyone know the Lionel or MTH # for it and suggest a replacement speaker?   I'll print and follow the button schematic.

How does an engine differentiate between bell and horn button? 

Amherst train show is coming up in a few weeks at the Big E in Massachusetts. 

Thanks again. Tom

Tomco posted:

5906, got it. Thanks Rob. What ohms and wattage speaker should I look for? I've read several on this forum. 16ohm, 8ohm, 5 volt, 3 volt. I probably should pull the shell off and see what's on the OEM speaker. Thought??

The speaker is probably fine. You just need a better controller.

Test the speaker by briefly connecting a "D" cell battery in series with the power to the center rail. In one direction, the horn will sound(here is a diagram with a momentary switch in the circuit):

D Cell Horn

in the other, the bell if it had it:

D Cell Bell

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  • D Cell Horn
  • D Cell Bell

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