lionel 2026 repair question

[danmc]

 Hello,

 Hope this is the best forum for this sort of question.  I have a Lionel 2026 locomotive that's been in the family for ages.  Sometime in the last few months it stopped working.  The symptom is that the wheels do not freely turn.  You can make almost 1 full revolution and then there is a spot which is very difficult to get past and then it is free again.  Forensic evidence (small dent on the front right wheel where front right would be the front passenger side on a US car) suggests that it was perhaps dropped.  Neither grandkids nor grandparents seem to know about it so detective Dad is just the repairman this week.

 

I suspect, but am not certain, that the front axle was maybe slightly damaged and that maybe the front right wheel bearing was damaged.  My question is on proper technique for taking this all apart.  I can probably figure out how to remove the motor from the chassis, but can the actual wheels then be removed?  I don't see how else I'm going to be able to really examine that axle and bearing.  Assuming I'm able to get it all apart and find and correct the damage, is there a special technique for putting the wheels back on?  Do they just get pressed back on?  If so, can I just put a wooden dowel against the wheel and tap the other side with a hammer to put the wheel back on?

 Thanks much.

 -Dan

 

 

[Nish]

Just to confirm, you're saying the drivers (big middle wheels) aren't turning freely, not the wheels on the pilot truck (little front wheels)? Since the pilot truck is pretty easy to fix or replace, I'll address the possible binding in the drivers. First of all check out this link (http://pictures.olsenstoy.com/2026-51.htm) and see if you can point out the part that you think is messed up so everyone on the forum can help out. The link contains PDFs of the Lionel service manual for that locomotive, and it shows clearly how everything goes together. Before you try pulling off wheels, remove the motor assembly and side rods. While the side rods are off, you can confirm whether or not a driver axle is actually bent by turning the wheels. If the wheels still bind with all the rods disconnected, you'll have to troubleshoot the motor assembly. Observe the operation and alignment of the gears and drivers while turning the wheels by hand- you may find that the gears could have eaten something that needs to be cleaned out. If an axle or a gear is indeed bent, you should probably send off for repairs, because you need a special puller tool to get the wheels off, and you usually have to put new wheels on once you take the old ones off. If the wheels turn OK with the rods off, check to see if the side rods aren't bent, because they are thin pieces of metal that bend easily and can bind up the drivers. are easy to bend straight again. You can also check the crosshead guides and see if they are screwed on straight, because if the engine was dropped on a crosshead, it might have knocked the guide out of alignment.

[alank]

Often when I have a problem like this where it rotates smoothly, then stiffens, it has to do with the siderods on the engine.   See if they are loose, or binding as you rotate.   May be in the wrong position.   I can't see where a dented wheel is causing this type of bind, unless someone really bent upp and axle, aand I think that would be a feat.   If necessary remove the side rods, and try rotating in thru.   That would be an easy test.   All you have to do is remove one screw where they tie into the driver.   Good Luck, and Happy New Year...2026s are a favorite with me..

[danmc]

 Nish:  You are correct, it is the drivers and not the truck.  Looking at that service drawing (thanks btw for that link) there are a couple of suspect things.

 

The "axle bushing" associated with the front "gear end wheel and axle" appears to be quite loose in the plate that it goes in.  I have disconnected the side rod and it looks like that front "gear end wheel and axle" is whats getting bound up.  I think it is for some reason pressing too hard against the intermediate gear at one particular spot.  I'll go over the teeth again and see if I can find anything stuck.  I'll also disconnect all of the side rods instead of just the one on the front gear end wheel just to be sure.

 

I suspected that a special puller would be needed.

 

Thanks

-Dan

 

 

 

[servoguy]

 You can check for a bent axle by rotating the wheels and looking to see if one or more wobble.  You can fix a bent axle with a pair of channel locks.  Put the channel locks across the drivers from the rim of the one that wobbles to the center of the opposite driver.  Be gentle, it doesn't take much force to bend the axle.  I did this to a 0-4-0 1615 switch engine that had been dropped.