Help with a Lionel B&O Mikado?

[Anonymous]

Becareful when pulling the shell off the Mikado. The side hand rails along the boiler are easily damaged, and there are two small wires on the front of the boiler that you need to position correctly when reseating the shell.

After having removed the shell once, this engine and my jr berks, go to the Lionel Service Station for service. Well for that matter all my steamers go to the service station. Diesels are easier to work with and more forgiving!

[dougdagrump]

If you clean the track also clean the wheels, not the tired wheels just the metal ones, and the p/u roller.

If this does not fix the problem you might, if you feel comfortable doing so, pull the shell and check for lose or bad connections.

What you are describing is essentially power interruptions causing the e-unit to cycle to the next state, Fwd-Neu-Rev-Neu.

[servoguy]

I had a problem recently like this.  The track was dirty. I cleaned with isopropyl alcohol and a paper towel.  A post war loco would run fine on the dirty track, but the newer loco with the electronic reversing unit had the problem you describe.

Bruce Baker

[Norfolk&Western578]

I've been trying to help out a friend who's having trouble with his Lionel B&O Mikado (6-28683). When you try to run it forward, it stays in neutral. Then sometimes it will jump into forward, go for a short distance, and then go back to neutral while in forward. It's not locked into any position, either. Does anyone know what the problem is, or what can be done to get the locomotive running correctly again?   Any help is greatly appreciated!