Disabling/Removing the Monorail Playset Sound?

[harlock69]

Hi all!

I didn't find this question previously asked, and apologize if I missed it.

I'm repurposing a monorail set with a non-Disney motif, and want to know how difficult it will be to get rid of the built-in audio.

Thanks in advance!
John

 

[harlock69]

Anyone? Bueller? Bueller?

 

[Borishack]

Bueller isn't here, but I am.

So you want to kill the monorail sound? Fine, here's what you do:

Open up the front motorized front car unit by turning it upside down and unscrewing the five Phillips head screws that secure the top section to the bottom. These pieces are connected by thin wires, so be careful when you open it up to not break them.

Looking at the bottom section of the car, you will see a black gear box with the electric drive motor at one end. At the other end you will see a round housing with a cover that is held down by screws. That contains the sound system speaker, where we need to do some simple surgery. Undo the screws to gain access to it.

After removing the cover, find and clip the two wires going to the speaker and cover the ends with electrical tape. You can then remove the speaker if you want, or just re-install the cover over it.

Re-assemble the car by carefully aligning the top and bottom and re-installing the five screws.

Voila, you have disabled the sound!

 

[harlock69]

Much appreciated, Boris!

I had a feeling that it would be something easy like that, but figured it best to ask before I went poking around under the hood.

Thanks again!
John

 

[Borishack]

Much appreciated, Boris!

I had a feeling that it would be something easy like that, but figured it best to ask before I went poking around under the hood.

Thanks again!
John

No problem. I'm sure the unit will still run fine once the speaker has been disconnected. In some toy circuits with speakers, if you disconnect them without subsequently putting a resistor in place of the speaker to provide a "phantom load," that can impact other operating elements of the circuit. Given what I see on the small circuit board near the cab section of the monorail engine, I don't think that's a concern here (it has a separate audio circuit that doesn't tie into the drive system, which is a simple on-off-on switch).

 

[Venomhatch]

Hi all!

I didn't find this question previously asked, and apologize if I missed it.

I'm repurposing a monorail set with a non-Disney motif, and want to know how difficult it will be to get rid of the built-in audio.

Thanks in advance!
John

I just did something simpler. I opened the main car as previously mentioned. I traced the wires to the speaker and clipped one of the purple wires and perfect! No sound and everything works as it should still.

 

[Borishack]

I just did something simpler. I opened the main car as previously mentioned. I traced the wires to the speaker and clipped one of the purple wires and perfect! No sound and everything works as it should still.

Simpler, yes. But the method I described allows one to more easily reconnect the speaker if restoring sound is ever desired. Also no loose, open load carrying line flapping around near a live circuit board (the moral gospels of the electrician in me rearing their heads here)