Lionel AEC - 57 Switcher User manual

71-8583-250
8/98
®
featuring
Lionel AEC - 57 Switcher
Diesel Locomotive
Owner’s Manual

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2
Congratulations!
Congratulations! You are now the
proud owner of the Lionel
Command-equipped Post War
Celebration AEC switcher locomo-
tive From the crisp detail and Post
War decoration on the outside to the
advanced technology and brute
power of the Pullmor®motor under
its hood, the Lionel switcher is ready
for duty on your model railroad
Experience the superiority of today’s
Lionel Have fun!
• LiontechCommandTM LCRU2reverseunit
forusewiththeLionelTrainMaster®
CommandTM modelrailroadcontrolsystem
• Powerful Pullmor motor
•Tire-traction
• Die-cast ElectrocouplersTM
• Directional headlight and cab light
Table of contents
Transformer operations
Running your switcher with a Lionel transformer 3
Using your switcher’s Electrocouplers 4
TrainMaster Command operations
The command control environment 5
Running your switcher in the TrainMaster Command environment 6
CAB-1 commands for your switcher 6
Tuning your switcher’s performance 7
Reprogramming LCRU circuit boards to restore features 7
Assigning your switcher a new ID# 8
Maintaining and servicing your switcher
Lubricating your switcher 9
Lubricating your switcher’s Pullmor motor armature 10
Replacing your switcher’s lamps 11
Lionel Service 12

Running your AEC switcher with a Lionel transformer
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Transformer operations
Place your AEC switcher locomotive on Lionel or
Lionel-compatible O gauge track.
• Make sure all eight wheels are properly resting on the railhead
Your switcher is equipped with a traction tire for enhanced trac-
tive effort This means that one of the engine drive wheels is fitted
with a rubber tire to permit greater pulling power The rubber tire
grips the track and enables the switcher to pull heavy loads at
higher speeds
2
2Power up your AEC switcher with your trans-
former.
• Your AEC switcher is designed to operate on 7-18 volts alternating
current. Virtually all Lionel and Lionel-compatible alternating-cur-
rent transformers are suitable; we recommend the TrainMaster
Command model railroad control system
• DN T P WER Y UR AEC SWITCHER WITH DIRECT CURRENT (DC)
Damage to sensitive electronic components may occur
• When you first power up your track, the AEC switcher will wait
between 3 and 8 seconds as it “listens” for digital language from
the TrainMaster Command Base (available separately) When it’s
determined that it’s on a conventional (nonCommand) railroad,
the AEC switcher’s headlights will illuminate At this point, the
locomotive is in neutral (This occurs when placing the AEC
switcher on your railroad for the first time Thereafter, it starts in
forward after every three-second power interrupt )
Note!
3
3Move ‘em out!
• Get your AEC switcher moving. Press the DIR button on your
CAB-1 remote or Lionel transformer This sequences the Lionel
Command reverse unit (LCRU) to the next operating state The
LCRU alternates between three states: forward, neutral, and
reverse
• Adjust track voltage until your AEC switcher moves at your
desired speed To increase speed, increase track voltage To
decrease speed, reduce voltage To stop the locomotive, cut track
power
• To select a single operating state (example: forward only), you
can deactivate the LCRU’s sequencing function Get your AEC
switcher moving in the desired direction, then slide the reverse
unit control switch on the locomotive’s cab front to PROGRAM
See page 8 for the switch location and positioning
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1

Transformer operations
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4
Using your AEC switcher’s Electrocoupler in the non-Command environment
Your AEC switcher is equipped with
front and rear Electrocouplers,
when in the non-Command environ-
ment, you must first couple a piece of
rolling stock equipped with Lionel mag-
netic couplers directly to your AEC
switcher The magnetic coupler on the
rolling stock will then react to the mag-
netic field generated by a Lionel remote-
control track section (available separate-
ly) Place your rolling stock’s coupler
“trigger disc” over the central coil of a
remote-control track section and press
uncouple on the controller The magnetic
field pulls the disc downward, and the
coupler opens
Your AEC switchers Electrocouplers will
NOT open manually or by using a
remote-control trac section
Magnetic coupler on the rolling stock
coupled to your AEC switcher
Note!
Remote-control track section
UsingyourAECswitcher’sElectrocouplerintheTrainMasterCommandenviron-
Your Lionel AEC switcher is
equipped with front and rear
Electrocouplers and it will
respond to the COUPLER F (front)
and COUPLER R (rear) button on
your CAB-1 remote when operat-
ed in the Trainmaster Command
environment Simply press either but-
ton on your CAB-1 remote, and
that coupler opens
YourAEC switcher’s
Electrocoupler is NOT
designed to be opened
manually.
Note!

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5
The Command control environment
Lionel TrainMaster Command is
the advanced model railroad
control system from Lionel Your AEC
switcher is equipped with the Lionel
Command reverse unit
TrainMaster Command gives you
the power to operate multiple
Command-equipped locomotives on
the same trac , at the same time.
TPERATE IN CMMAND, Y U NEED
ACMMAND BASE AND A CAB-1
REM TE. Find them both at your
authorized Lionel retailer
Place your AEC switcher locomotive on Lionel or
Lionel-compatible O gauge track.
• Make sure track power is FF before placing your AEC switcher on
the track.
• Make sure your Lionel Command Base is N and its communi-
cations wire is connected to the COMMON post on your Lionel
transformer or the U post on any of your installed PowerMasters
• Once positioned on the track, increase track voltage to FULL (on
PowerMaster, slide the CMD/CONV switch to CMD)
2
2Address your AEC switcher locomotive using CAB-1.
• Press ENG and 1 on the numeric keypad of your CAB-1 remote This
command is sent by CAB-1 to the Command Base, which then trans-
lates your command into digital code That code is sent around your
railroad’s outside rails in the form of a digital “halo ” All Command-
equipped Lionels listen to this digital communication, but they do
not respond until they hear their individual ID number—in this case,
“1 ”
• The digital language of TrainMaster Command—and not track
power—controls the actions of Command-equipped Lionels Track
power is simply like gasoline in the tank of your car—it gives you the
power to go places, but it doesn’t tell you where to go or how fast to
get there
• All Command-equipped Lionels come factory-programmed with
an ID# of “1.” To change the ID# of your AEC switcher, see page 8
3
3Move ‘em out!
• Throttle up or press any command button on CAB-1 Your AEC
switcher locomotive will respond to your every command Read on
1
1

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TrainMaster Command operations
Running your switcher in the TrainMaster Command environment
Press AUX2
to turn your
switcher’s head-
light on and off
The WSTL/HRN
button has no effect
on the switcher
Press DIR—the loco-
motive decelerates to
a complete stop; turn
the throttle up, and the
locomotive will accel-
erate in the new, oppo-
site direction THERE IS
NO NEUTRAL STATE
The BELL button
has no effect on the
switcher
Press HALT to shut
down all Power-
Master electrical
output on your rail-
road Stops all
Command-equipped
Lionels in operation
Turn the
THROTTLE to the
right to accelerate,
left to decelerate
Your Command-equipped AEC
switcher comes factory-pro-
grammed with an ID# of “1 ” To get
your switcher in action, set
PowerMaster to CMD or set all power
supplies on full Press ENG and “1” on
CAB-1 Turn the throttle or press any
command button; your switcher is
ready for Command operations
CAB-1 commands for your switcher
Press and hold BOOST
for extra power Release
BOOST and return to the
switcher’s previous speed
Press and hold BRAKE
to slow down or stop
Release BRAKE and
return to the previous
speed
address Engine #1
PowerMasters set to CMD or traditional
power supplies ON FULL
Press ENG
Press 1 (the ID#)
Throttle up/press any command button
Example
Rear coupler releases
Front coupler releases

Due to the inevitable derailments,
static, and the nature of electricity, it
is possible that your LCRU could some-
day lose its setup program The symptoms
of this condition would be unresponsive-
ness in command mode This can be easily
remedied by “reprogramming” your
LCRU using the following steps
STEP 1: Move switch on locomotive from
run to program
STEP2: Turn on Command Base
STEP 3: Place locomotive on track, then
turn on power to track
STEP 4: Press “ENG” then input locomo-
tive’s ID# Press “SET”
STEP 5: Press “ENG”, then the ID#,
“AUX1”, then press a number closest to
your locomotive type (see list for engine
types)
STEP 6: Turn off power to track, wait ten
seconds
STEP 7: Remove locomotive from track,
move switch from program to run
STEP 8: Place locomotive back on track,
turn power on to track
STEP 9: Press “ENG” and ID#, then oper-
ate as normal
PROGRAMCODEFOROTHERENGINES
0=STEAMWITHSIGNALSOUNDS
1=DIESELWITHSIGNALSOUNDS
2=DIESELWITHCABLIGHTANDSIGNALSOUNDS
4=STEAMWITHSMOKE
5=DIESELWITHSTROBELIGHT
6=DIESELWITHCABLIGHT
36=ALCOPA’S-NEWIN1997
70 = J1E HUDSON & S.F. WARHORSE (BOTH
LOCO&TENDERMUSTBEONTRACK)
75=SOOLINESD-60
Reprogramming LCRU circuit boards to restore features
AEC switcher
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7
Tuning your AEC switcher’s performance
MOMENTUM
Simulate the labored performance
of a locomotive pulling a heavy load
with momentum Press L, M, or H
(located under CAB-1’s removable
panel) for light, medium, or heavy
momentum The LCRU2 remembers
the setting until you change it For
delayed response, use H For quick
response, choose L
BOOSTING AND BRAKING
Use the BOOST and BRAKE com-
mand buttons for incremental control
of speed and a superior method for
handling grades, stops-and-starts,
and more
STALL
Make your AEC switcher feel more
responsive by setting a “stall” volt-
age Get your locomotive moving,
then press SET; the AEC switcher will
stop The headlight will flash, indicat-
ing it’s in the SET mode Turn the
throttle clockwise to get the engine
moving, then decrease speed until the
locomotive just stops Then press SET
again; the LCRU remembers the stall
setting until you change it To clear
stall, press SET twice, holding it for
one second each time
HIGH VOLTAGE SETTING
Press SET, headlight will flash Get
your locomotive moving to the maxi-
mum speed you want it to run, press
BOOST Use this to keep your loco-
motive from excess-speed derailing
Turn off the high voltage setting by
pressing SET, then BOOST, holding
each for one second
Note! These settings will be lost when you assign new engine ID#s

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8
Set the AEC switcher’s reverse
unit program switch to PRO-
GRAM. When you’ve finished
programming the ID#, set the
switch to RUN.
As your fleet of Command-equipped
Lionels grows, give your AEC
switcherlocomotive its own ID# Choose
from any between 1 and 99 Turn the
Command Base ONand place the loco-
motive on track Power up, then slide
the locomotive’s reverse unit control
switch to PROGRAM
Using CAB-1, press ENG, the locomo-
tive ID#, then press the SET button
located under CAB-1’s removable panel
Hear the locomotive’s horn sound (if
RailSounds is on); that’s your signal that
the programming has been accepted
Slide the control switch to RUN
AssignanewID#toyour
Command-equipped locomotive
Command Base ON
Place the locomotive on track
PowerMasterssettoCMDor
traditionalpowersuppliesONFULL
Setthelocomotivereverseunitcontrol
switchtoPROGRAM(seebelowforlocation)
Turntrackpoweron(PowerMasters):
Press BOOST
Program the locomotive with a new ID#:
Press ENG
Press a number you choose
(the ID#)
Press SET
Setreverseunitcontrolswitchto
FORWARD/RUN(seebelowforlocation)
YourlocomotiveremembersitsID# forever;
changeitanytimewiththesesteps
We recommend that you choose an
easy to remember ID# for your
engine Some possibilities are part of
the engine road number, your age,
any two digit number that is not
used by another engine. If you like
write the number on a small piece of
tape and put this on the bottom of
the frame to aid in remembering
Assigning your locomotive a new ID#
Example
PROGRAM/LOCK
FORWARD/RUN
TrainMaster Command operations

9
9
Lubricating your AEC switcherlocomotive
Help your Lionel AEC switcher
locomotive lead a long and pro-
ductive life on your railroad by main-
taining it properly
We recommend you purchase a
Lionel 929 Lubrication and
Maintenance kit (no 6-62927), available
from your Lionel dealer Two basic
rules to keep in mind: never over-lubri-
cate (a small amount will do), and
avoid getting grease or oil on the AEC
switcher’s wheels, contact rollers, or
your track
You’ll know your AEC switcher
requires lubrication when visual inspec-
tion reveals dryness on the parts indi-
cated in the illustration Remove accu-
mulated dirt and dust before lubricat-
ing, and always lubricate any locomo-
tive emerging from prolonged storage
Cab mounting screw
Cab mounting screw
Lubricate with Lionel oil
sparingly
Lubricate with Lionel oil
sparingly To remove shell, unscrew
cab mounting screws, and
slip shell off Be careful
with the wires attached to
the shell
Lubricate with Lionel
grease sparingly
Underside of AEC switcher
Front of AEC switcher
Rear of AEC switcher
Lubricate with Lionel oil
sparingly
Maintaining and servicing your AEC switcherlocomotive

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10
Lubricating your AEC switcher’s Pullmor motor armature
Your AEC switcher engine will
require occasional lubrication of
its Pullmor motor armature If you
hear excess noise during operation, or
if the locomotive slows down inter-
mittently, you may need to oil the top
armature bearing
Start by separating the body shell
from the frame; remove the cab
mounting screws (see illustration on
page 9) Unscrew the set screw shown
below and apply a small amount of
Lionel oil (two drops) in the armature
shaft hole Reinstall the set screw
Proper set screw adjustment can be
checked by gently rolling the engine
wheels back and forth by hand As
you do this, observe the up and down
travel of the armature,and brushes
Tighten the set screw until the travel
of the brushes or the armature is
about 010” up and down (thickness
of three sheets of paper) When the set
screw is correctly adjusted the travel
up and down of the brushes and
armature will be barely visible
Finish the job by reinstalling the
body shell and reinserting the cab
mounting screws
Note: Due to gearing, you will not
be able to turn the motor armature by
rolling the wheels
Lionel oil
LIONELLIONEL
Set screw
Maintaining and servicing your AEC switcherlocomotive

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11
Replacing your AEC switcher’s lamps
Remove the switcher’s shell,
push the lens assembly through
the lens opening, and replace
the entire lens assembly (which
includes the lens, lamp , wires,
and plug-ins).
Wirenut
Pull back
LCRU
Connector
Rear bulb wire Front bulb wire
Ground
wires
RearFront
Your switcher is illuminated by two
grain-of-wheat lamps During the
course of normal operation, they may
require replacement
Begin by removing the switcher’s
shell Remove the two screws that hold
the body to the frame (See page 9 for
location) Carefully lift the shell away
from the frame Take care with the vari-
ous wiring assemblies connected to the
shell
Locate the assembly containing the
expired lamp One is in the headlight
lens, the other is in the rear, upper por-
tion of the cab lens They are press-fit
into each lens Carefully pull up and
remove the 5 pin plug with the 3 wires
attached on the LCRU unit Looking at
the illustration below, one wire for the
rear light is plugged into the left of the
5 pin connector Pull back on the tab
with a small pointed object and lift the
wire out The other wire from the rear
lamp is secured by a wire nut to the
ground wire on the 5 pin connector
First unscrew it then remove the tape
and gently push the lens assembly
from the inside until it pops out of the
lens opening Pull it completely
through (Changing the front bulb is
the same except the second wire on the
left in the 5 pin connector goes to the
front bulb )
Replace the lens assembly with
Lionel part no 610-8515-100, available
from your Authorized Lionel Service
Center or Lionel Service See the Lionel
Service section on page 12 for more
information
Feed the replacement wires and
plug-ins through the cab or headlight
opening and insert them into the 5 pin
connector as described, then plug the
connector back into the LCRU Press fit
the lens assembly securely into place
Reinstall the shell, making sure all of
the wires are tucked inside; then insert
and tighten the two platform screws

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Limited Warranty/Lionel Service
This Lionel product including all mechanical
and electrical components, moving parts,
motors and structural components, except for
light bulbs, is warranted to the original con-
sumer-purchaser, for 1 year against original
defects in materials or workmanship when pur-
chased through an authorized Lionel merchant
This warranty does NOT cover normal wear
and tear, light bulbs, defects appearing in the
course of commercial use, or damage resulting
from abuse or misuse of the product by the pur-
chaser Transfer of this product by the original
consumer-purchaser to another person voids this
warranty Modification of this product voids this
warranty
Any warranted product which is defective in
original materials or workmanship and is deliv-
ered by the original consumer-purchaser to Lionel
L L C or an authorized Lionel L L C service cen-
ter, together
with proof of original purchase, will at the option
of Lionel L L C be repaired or replaced, without
charge for parts or labor In the event the defective
product cannot be repaired, and a replacement is
not available, a refund of the original purchase
price will be granted Any products on which
warranty service is sought must be sent freight or
postage prepaid, as transportation and shipping
charges are not covered by the warranty
IN NO EVENT SHALL LIONEL L.L.C. BE LIABLE
FOR INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL
DAMAGES.
Some states do not allow the exclusion or limita-
tion of incidental or consequential damages, so
the above exclusion may not apply to you
This limited warranty gives you specific legal
rights, and you may have other rights which vary
from state to state
INSTRUCTIONS FOR OBTAINING SERVICE
If service for this Lionel L L C product is
required, bring the item, along with your dated
sales receipt and completed warranty informa-
tion to the nearest Authorized Lionel Service
Center Your nearest Lionel Service Center can be
found by calling 1-800-4-Lionel, or by contacting
our Website @ www Lionel com
If you prefer to send it back to Lionel L L C for
factory repair, you must first call 810-949-4100 or
FAX [phone] or write to Customer Service,
PO Box 748 New Baltimore, MI 48047-0748 stat-
ing what the item is, when it was purchased and
what seems to be the problem You will be sent a
return authorization letter and label to assure
your merchandise will be properly handled upon
receipt
Once you have received your return authoriza-
tion and label, make sure that the item is packed
to prevent damage during shipping and han-
dling We suggest that you use the products orig-
inal packaging This shipment must be prepaid
and we recommend that it be insured
Please make sure you have followed all of the
above instructions carefully before returning any
merchandise for service
You may choose to have your product repaired
by one of our Authorized Lionel Service Centers
after its warranty has expired A reasonable ser-
vice fee will be charged
WARRANTY INFORMATION
Please complete the information below and keep
it, along with your dated sales receipt You must
present this and your dated sales receipt when
requesting warranty service
NAME___________________________________
ADDRESS________________________________
PLACE OF PURCHASE____________________
DATE OF PURCHASE _____________________
PRODUCT NUMBER _____________________
PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
_________________________________________
© 1998 LIONEL LLC, CHESTERFIELD MI 48051-2493
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA