MAC Toy Train Repair (1666 Engine)

[Dads Old Train]

Hello

I just open my train box after 30 years for my sons.  I forgot how much train stuff I had and how much needs repairs.

I tested the train and it runs but slowly and the tracks are a little rusty.  Can someone help me on what must be done.

1) What time of repair or maintenance must be done on the engine ?  It is a 1666 with smoke.

2) Where to obtain books or service guides on how to repair these trains?

3) Where to obtain greese, correct cleaning solution, spare parts etc...

This is a good strart.

Thank you for your assistance,

A Fellow toy train lover,

 

[TrainLarry]

Welcome back into the world of toy trains. It sounds like you have a Marx 1666 steam locomotive.

For general information and lubrication points, see here. For accessories, see here.

Your local hobby shop should have the oil and grease necessary to lubricate your trains. To clean off old oil and grease, I use naptha (lighter fluid) which will not harm plastic or paint. Light rust can be cleaned with a Scotch Brite pad. Never use sandpaper. Make sure to clean the connecting pins on the track also.

Marx repair parts are available here. Call about the "Marx Trains Repair Manual" (seen here).

Larry

[BigAl 956]

The 1666 was first introduced in 1946 just after the end of WWII and was offered through 1947.

After who knows how many years in the box the engine will need serious cleaning and lubrication.

Here is a link that will offer lots of info and repair and parts. http://pictures.olsenstoy.com/search_lionel.htm

 

As for the rusty track I wouldn't invest too much time on it, Try cleaning it up with a scotch bright pad if you can. If it's too far gone just toss it and replace.

[TrainLarry]

Lionel or Marx?

Did the Lionel 1666 come with smoke?

Larry

[servoguy]

IMHO, you probably don't need to do any disassembly or cleaning of the loco.  Oil it with 5/10W-20/30 motor oil.  The motor oil will soften any dried grease, and the motor oil will not dry out or become gummy.  Don't use grease, Lionel Lube, 3 in 1 oil, WD-40, light machine oil as these will all dry out or become gummy.  

I have many prewar and post war locos and I have only cleaned the ones that really needed it.  I bought a 2333 a few years ago, and the gearboxes were full of hardened grease.  I cleaned them out and oiled the loco with motor oil, and it runs just fine.  

The oldest loco I have is a 152, and I never disassembled it to clean it.  Just oiled it some years ago, and it runs fine.

[servoguy]

You can clean the track by running the train on it.  I bought a large quantity of used O-31 track early this year.  Rather than clean it, I put it together into a layout and just ran the train until the top of the rails was clean.  I had to manually clean a few places that had some rust, but it was a lot more fun running the train than running a ScotchBrite pad.  I initially put the E unit into forward only until the track was clean enough so that the E unit didn't trip.

In order to make a good connection between the track sections, I bent the rails where the pins are installed so that there was contact pressure when the pins were inserted into the open ends of the rails of the adjoining section.  With the pins facing away from me, I bent the left rail to the left and the center rail to the right.  The pins can be somewhat rusty and this will still work.  The iron oxide is a mild abrasive and when the pins are inserted, the rust burnishes the end of the pin and the inside of the rail.