Help in identifying this front light pcb for 6-28259

I notice the Lionel 6-28259 Parts List conveniently omits any mention of this board unless it's considered part of the shell.

Since the components on that board are very simple, it can probably be revived if it's truly not working.  I'd start by trying to determine if the headlight power is making it to the board.

Question, do the marker lights work?

No the marker lights do not work either.  When I would switch directions; the rear headlight is on and marker lights turn green, but nothing in the front.  The front is dead, and no red marker lights when in reverse.  When in forward direction, no green marker lights, but ditch lights would flash when horn is applied.  

Are the ditch lights connected to that board?  It appears that the headlight power is not coming to the board, so it may well be that it's not the board that's the issue.  The flashing ditch lights would not come from the same source.

The board is tied in series with the rear lighting board.  I checked voltage.  voltage is going to the board, I even switched the rear lighting board to the front.  Wella'! the rear board worked.  I then moved the front board to the rear connection.  Same results, no lights.  I am pretty sure it the board.  All the cab lights and ditch lights work properly.  The 4 pin connector comes off a 9 pin connector harness that goes to the main control board.

I'm guessing the board could be fixed if you can't find a replacement.  Can you take some higher resolution pictures of each side of the baord?

I have added a few high res pictures, maybe this board is repairable.

thanks for taking a look.

Ron

Like I said, it's pretty difficult for me to believe this can't be fixed.  Did you try the tests I suggested for powering it?

If the LED's lit applying 6V to the input connector, I'm going to offer the opinion that the board is not broken, there's not much that can be wrong with it.  All it gets is a voltage from the TMCC receiver light outputs.

Did you try re-programming.

Bill

Good point Bill.

I will give reprogramming a try. And go from there.  

Thanks everyone for assisting me in this strange scenario.

Bill:  would know if Lionel offer a equivalent items for this board?

Other Legacy SD40-2 engines have these components 63044776331 and  6304776332

as the pcb boards for the front light assembly. 

FWIW, I have the Conrail Legacy Lionmaster SD-80 and the lights were flaky, and a reprogram did fix it.  I should have thought of that, that was last year.  I actually was looking around inside and didn't see anything wrong either.  In my case, the marker lights were flaky.

Thanks again, I'll report back on the outcome.

If when you swapped rear board to front, and it worked, I doubt reprogramming will help. if the marker light diodes are bi-color and switch from red to green, be VERY careful, they work on about 2.5 volts and even 3 volts will damage them! Lionel has gotten away from the bi-color leds as they are troublesome, that's why they probably don't stock direct replacement boards for your SD40.

Chuck, that doesn't explain why connecting voltage to the inputs lights the lights, yet connecting to the locomotive they don't work.

I will agree that some of the bi-color LED's are touchy, I've cooked a couple of the red/white ones, and I didn't do anything I shouldn't have, they just died in service.

The problem could be in the control board that controls the F/R lights, not the actual light board.

I'm having a problem with it being in the light board if my previous experiment properly light the lights.

As a last resort, if Lionel or another forum or himself can't find the answer, he could send it to me, and if I can't repair it I would only charge for return shipping.

The board that controls the F/R lights is the R4LC. If he has another R4LC radio board he could make the swap and try. That is why I suggested a re-program. 

Bill

Since he said he put the rear light assembly in and it worked, that seems to say the R4LC is not broken, no?

I was referring to the lighting distribution board. An example is for a GP-7 is 620-8340-115. I'm pretty sure his SD40 has one, but no longer available. I have seen problems with this board there. If the poster said the checked all the LEDs and they worked, that would be my next guess. At this point I wouldn't rule anything out. If he get's it operational, I hopes he posts what the problem is. Since he said when he swapped boards and the rear worked in the front wiring harness, I am at a loss. 

Chuck, that's where I'm at as well.  If the rear board worked with the front harness, that would seem to narrow it down to the front board.  However, if the board works when applying voltage directly to the connector, that would seem to eliminate the front board as the problem.  Also, from the pictures of that specific board, there is very little to go wrong with it.

It would seem that all the components work, just not when plugged together!  I think this is one I'd have to see in order to figure out what is really happening.

On your front board, apply track power to the pin marked 3rd and outside rail marked grd. let us know if they work.

Bill

Bill, aren't those used for lighting the number boards?  He says they work.

You say connecting to the two lamp inputs to the ground pin and the LED light?

In his forth pic, the four pin connector is marked F/L B/L GND and 3rd rail. He should apply track power to the ones marked GND and 3rd rail. 

As I asked Bill, doesn't that power the number boards?

If you want to send me the board, I'll see if I can determine what is wrong with it.  There are very few components that could cause it to be totally dead.

I suspect a total "rebuild" is not needed, just identify the problem component or connection.  The board looks in decent shape, so it should be simple to bring it back to life.

Just in case you don't have any luck, my offer still stands.

Thanks, Chuck

www.only3rail.com

Thanks for the offer Chuck, I'm up for the challenge. 

I will get this board working.