lionel model 260e

[valcheff]

i have a lionel model 260e that does not run...it was passed down to my son 12 years old from his grandfather. from what i have been able to find on the internet that this is a prewar unit..i am a general handyman ,but an expert in nothing.i have taken the engine unit out .the wiring was in bad shape brittle ,most were bare. i put new heat shrink on each wire( everything is connected from where it came from,, there are no opens )..two coming from brushes , one coming from magnetic field,one coming from middle track rollers(under side of unit), one coming from solinoid . my question is everywhere i look for help everyone keeps talking about the  e-unit  and drum . mine has  what i think is a e unit but there is no drum in the unit ..just a solinoid that chatters if i apply 18 vac . . the solonoid actuator that is attached to the plunger moves a lever once it is actuated,,i have not been able to pry the sides open to look at the inside where the POSTS  are.i cleaned the armature ,the brushes are good ,if i apply 20 vac to one side of the brush and ground to a outside wheel i get the armature to react but not move.i have tried finding a wiring diagram for this model but i only could find one that also had a drum unit with 3 fingers. the area WHERE MY WIRING IS CONNECTED ONTO POSTS  there is 3 posts at the top and 3 at the bottom without the 2 outer posts connected by a jumper piece.

any help on how to trubleshoot this further

[tjl0824]

Can you upload pictures? I suspect it would have something to do with the e-unit but it could be any number of thing.

Trevor