I had a Polar Express whistle installed in my father's Lionel 783 Hudson, but it only occasionally works...its like the handle has to be in just right spot for it to get triggered. Any thoughts? My dad uses an old ZW transformer.
Any thoughts or help would be appreciated.
Thanks.
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Normal operation.
The new electronic trigger for the can motor driven air whistles was not designed for older transformers.
For improved operation, use a 5606 sound activation button.
Thanks, Rob. I think I have one that came with my 18005 700E model.
I tried hooking this up today, but I must be doing something wrong. It kept shorting out the transformer. What is the proper way to hook up the activation button? What am I missing??
Thanks.
Make sure you are hooking it up between the transformer and the track, not across the transformer. This manual shows how to wire it.
Not sure but that seems right. If you get the wires reversed, it shouldn't hurt anything, but the whistle might not blow. If it doesn't work, just reverse them.
I had a Polar Express whistle installed in my father's Lionel 783 Hudson, but it only occasionally works...its like the handle has to be in just right spot for it to get triggered. Any thoughts? My dad uses an old ZW transformer.
Any thoughts or help would be appreciated.
Thanks.
You're right about needing the correct position of the whistle lever to activate a modern whistle with a postwar ZW. If the ZW whistle diode is in good condition, the whistle lever will activate a modern whistle with lever in partially pressed, not pressed all the way in. The Lionel Sound activation button would be used for a whistle if engine has a whistle.
Technical information on the postwar whistle diode replacement is at Tranz4mr’s ZW Page .
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