How do I locate and check the motor driver board? the engine starts up, smokes, horn and bell works. But it won't move. bought it used at York a year ago, good price and now I know why! Am thinking if I can't check the board out, I'll pull the motors and use it as a semi smart "dummy" engine with the 778 Nickle Plate I bought recently. Any thoughts anyone?
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Have you checked all the normal issues, Run/program switch, reset the board?
Normally the board is in the engine, hard to miss as it has the heat sinks on it.
Which model number is this? G
There's no reason to consider making it a dummy at this point. Nothing in the standard TMCC package should be that expensive or hard to replace. There are other reasons for the locomotive to not have motion, it's not necessarily a board.
The engine is the 18587 Engine #577. If it is the driver board is there an easy way to test it with VOM or other tool? Or is replacing it the best option? Is the board best to buy from Lionel or is there an after market source.
Thanks!
Ok, this is a diesel. You still may want to try a reset, and check connectors to the board,but Lionel list this part as available On their website. G
This is a bog-standard modular TMCC locomotive. Nothing in there should set you back that much. If you would like, you can send me the boards and I'll test them for you. The only ones that would figure into motion is the R2LC and the DCDR. I can supply either one at a good price, I have working used boards of both types. The DCDR new from Lionel is $40, so it's not that expensive to have a new one as well.
You can't simply test them with a VOM, but if you have another locomotive, you can swap them pretty easily and see if that isolates the cause.
The engine is the 18587 Engine #577. If it is the driver board is there an easy way to test it with VOM or other tool? Or is replacing it the best option? Is the board best to buy from Lionel or is there an after market source.
PJ,
We are a Lionel Authorize Repair Station. If you would like, you can send us the engine and we would repair it for you. We only charge for parts and return shipping, no labor charge. You could have other problems besides what John stated. We also sell Lionel parts at 15% off list.
thanks,
Bill
Bill, is this really still under warranty? "Bought used at York a year ago"?
Bill, is this really still under warranty? "Bought used at York a year ago"?
Where did I say anything about warranty. I purchased the same engine about eleven years ago. On warranty repairs we charge Lionel, when we repair engines out of warranty we only charge for the parts and return shipping as I stated.
Bill
Sorry Bill, I misread your post. Can't get any better than that! 
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