I need some advice on my Lionel 685

[68camaro_guy]

I just got a  Lionel 685 Hudson locomotive from an antique store recently. I've been taking everything apart, cleaning everhing that needs to be cleaned, and lubricating all of the moving parts, like what I do with each new project I get. I'm still reletively new to vintage Lionel's, I've only been working on and collecting them for 5 ot 6 years now, hopefully someboudy with more experiance can help me out.

I was pulling the e unit out to clean the drum and contacts, and the wire from the e unit that runs all the way down to the power pick up broke loose. I can barely see where the wire connects, but the front axel is in the way, and there's not enough space for me to fit a sodering. I dont see any way around pulling off the front wheels. I really dont want to do that becuase I've heard its a tricky thing  to do on steam locomotives, and I dont have a wheel puller.

Maybe there's something I'm missing or some kind of trick to resodering that wire to the very bottom of the motor? I've never had this happen to me, I'm usually pretty lucky when wires break loose, they're usually ontop or someplace easier to get to! lol

 Also, the e-unit switch is loose and flopping around, not making very good contact, is there a way to tighten it? I was thinking about slipping in a C clip to see if that might help but I couldnt find ant spares.

[rtraincollector]

What you probably really need is a wheel puller and a frame spreader. you need to get that bottom plate off to do this correctly. ( and I donot have either one. ) Little by little I need to get tools like that including a press to put the wheels back on correctly. Now all that said I have pulled a wheel before ( and this is not recommended by any body ) by using two flat head screw drivers and one on each side and slowly worked the wheel off. 

[TrainLarry]

You do not need to pull off any wheels to repair the wiring. See here for a parts view of the motor assembly.

You need to spread the bottom of the motor housing apart slightly, and the roller pickup assembly (called the "shoe-complete" in the diagram) will come out. You can then repair/replace the wiring and reinstall the assembly.

I made a spreader tool similar to an e-unit spreading tool to remove these shoe assemblies. Barring a tool, you may be able to CAREFULLY pry the shoe assembly out with a thin blade screwdriver wedged between the shoe assembly board and the motor, being careful not to break the fiber board the rollers are riveted to.

Larry

[68camaro_guy]

Thanks! I have done that once before using the 2 screwdriver, and was lucky enough to get the wheel back on straight somehow, doubt I'd be that lucky again on this one! The one I did pull a wheel off was a prewar, 4 wheeled locomotive, which was easier to take apart, and put back together.

 

[tinplatacis]

Just bypass all that and attatch the wire to the spring assembly that holds the rollers against the track. That's what I do.

[cwburfle]

If you try to remove the collector plate, one or more of the following is likely:

1 - you will break the plate

2 - you will bend up to bottom of the motor assembly

3 - if you try to remove and reinstall the wheels without the proper tools you will wind up with wobbly wheels that may be out of quarter. Even with the proper tools, removing and reinstalling wheels can be a pain.

I suggest going with Tinplatacis' advice.

[sir james I]

tinplatacis

Just bypass all that and attatch the wire to the spring assembly that holds the rollers against the track. That's what I do.

 Now this is what makes a forum worth while. A very good tip.

[68camaro_guy]

Those were my exact fears! It looks too tight to spread the frame, even with the wheels, and I can see that plate breaking if i attempted that. I agree with you 100%, too risky.

[68camaro_guy]

I like your idea, tinplatacis, no risk of anything breaking or bending :) I'll give that go! Thanks for the tip!

tinplatacis

Just bypass all that and attatch the wire to the spring assembly that holds the rollers against the track. That's what I do.

 

[quote user="tinplatacis"]

 

[68camaro_guy]

Thanks for the tip,  Larry :)

[TrainLarry]

Hobby Horse Products catalog, page 3, lists a Frame Spreader tool, part HH-1073 for just this application. The frame can be spread just enough to gently pry out the shoe assembly without permanently bending the frame or breaking the fiber board. With care, it can, and has been done.

Larry

[lionelsoni]

Another consideration is that the fiber tabs that fit into the slots in the frame are longer than they need to be.  It may be possible to cut or saw them shorter on one side of the board to get the board out (and back in) with a more modest spread than would otherwise be needed.

[cwburfle]

Hobby Horse Products catalog, page 3, lists a Frame Spreader tool, part HH-1073 for just this application. The frame can be spread just enough to gently pry out the shoe assembly without permanently bending the frame or breaking the fiber board. With care, it can, and has been done.

I have one. It isn't easy to use, and will bend the frame. If someone can describe a technique whereby it won't, I would like to read about it.

[LL675]

tinplatacis

Just bypass all that and attatch the wire to the spring assembly that holds the rollers against the track. That's what I do.

 

 

I'll remember that, sounds like a good idea. 

there was a tip in one of Dr Tinker's columns once, guy said to cut the motor frame on one side above the tabs, bend the metal out of the way, and after inserting the tabs just bend it back, but I like tinplatacis idea better.

[cwburfle]

there was a tip in one of Dr Tinker's columns once, guy said to cut the motor frame on one side above the tabs, bend the metal out of the way, and after inserting the tabs just bend it back, but I like tinplatacis idea better.

Some MPC motor assemblies were made with collector plates that only had tabs on one side. The aluminum frame was bent in at the holes for the tabs to trap the plain side of the collector plate.