No Reverse??

[Anonymous]

Hello – just revived my old Lionel Train from 50 years of storage. Bought some new track, lock-on, wire, hooked it up and nothing worked. Cleaned the tender out a bit, fixed some wires, cleaned some contacts and have a whistle now!! Got the locomotive to move forward, but no reverse. Trying to fix it up for the grand kids to play with for Xmas. Haven’t taken the locomotive apart yet, is that a big deal? Oh, what is the switch on the top of the locomotive for – I surely can’t remember? The locomotive is a 2038 and the transformer is a 90 watt 1033, I’m using posts U & A . Any ideas would be appreciated.

Best Regards
Ron
Michigan

[lionelsoni]

Your transformer connection is correct.

The switch disconnects the solenoid that operates the e-unit, which is the thing that reverses the locomotive. If it is off, the direction will not change. Try moving it to the other position.

If you have already tried the switch and still can't get it to reverse, listen as you turn the power on and off to see whether you can hear the e-unit clicking as it steps. If you can, your problem is probably with the contact fingers in the e-unit, which is very tricky to repair.

[1688torpedo]

Hello Ron! Sounds like the reverse unit in your engine needs to be taken apart and cleaned. Once this is done your engine should run like new.What part of Michigan do you hail from? If you're not sure you can work on a reverse unit then your best bet is to take your engine to a Lionel Service Station and they'll do it for you.If you need any more help, Just let us know.

[Anonymous]

I'm in West Bloomfield, which is about 15 miles North of Detroit. Yes, I do hear a clicking sound sometimes. Is they any trick to removing the motor unit from the locomotive housing? Thought I'd ask befor I dig in.

[phillyreading]

Sounds like you may need to lube the e-unit at the end of the shaft on the small wheel that turns. To remove the shell or top you will have at least two screws to take out, not sure if the engine is an 027 or O gauge(unable to find that number in Greenbergs guide) if 027 there may be a rod that will need to be removed near the cab by using a sturdy but small piece of metal like a drill bit and to hammer this rod out very gently as there is groves that hold this rod on one sid of the cab. Also does this engine have roller wheels under neath or pick-up tabs? When repairing older Lionel you need to know what is on the bottom side to take the locomotive apart properly.
Lee in south Florida.

[lionelsoni]

If you hear the clicking, the e-unit solenoid must be connected. Does the locomotive always start and run forward, or are there times when it just sits there, perhaps buzzing, with the headlight on? If the former, the drum is stuck. If the latter, the drum is turning, but one or another of the fingers is not making contact with the drum.

[1688torpedo]

Hello Ron! In order to take your Engine apart; Remove the two flat head oval screws that secure the Front Pilot Truck W/ the front wheels attached to it. Then,use a Nut Driver to remove The Short Siderods from the Center Drivewheels.After that, Remove the Metal rod that helps hold the Motor in Place at the rear of the engine just above the rear Trailing Truck. Then remove the Trailing Truck as well. Turn the engine over and remove The Phillips Head Screw that is behind the smokestack.Then the Motor will come out. Unscrew the reverse unit and use Needlenose pliers to separate the side frames of the Reverse Unit.and the Copper Drum Will come out as will the Pawl.Clean the drum with a large pencil eraser and clean the copper contacts with Rubbing Alchohol.If the fingers are burned then they need to be replaced.When everything is clean then slide the set of Four Copper Contacts in place first,Then the Pawl,after that the Drum and then the Bottom set of Two Contacts.Use the Needle nose pliers to squezze the sideframes together and use a ballpeen hammer to Tighten the side frames together where the Mounting stud comes through.Olsen's Toy Train Parts has diagrams that you can download on your computer and also the parts for your engine to get it running properly.Hope this helps out. If you have any more questions. Just ask. Take Care. P.S. Sounds like your Locomotive is a 2037 instead of a 2038 as Lionel never made a 2038 at all.

[Anonymous]

The locomotive has the rollers underneath. The only number I can find on the unit is the 2038/maybe 2036 on the sides of the cab? Yes, at times it does just sit there and buzz with the light on. Then if I fiddle with it a bit it will go forward -it's on O27 model.