Thanks for your help Robert. I have found out we have train shows locally this weekend and next weekend. I plan on attending with my 'problem children' in hand. Hopefully I'll be able to find some advice/tools to get what I need done. I be posting hopefully when all is well.
Unfortunately, since I've never worked on that particular engine, I can't offer you any advice on how to go about the repair. Judging by your description of the solder joint and wiring, you may want to disassemble the engine to double-check the wiring inside. Hopefully, someone familiar with this engine will chime in regarding how to do that.
Robert
http://www.robertstrains.com/
Robert, thanks for the welcome and for the suggestion. I have been suspecting the contact rollers/wiring all along, particularly since the day I put the engine on the track and saw smoke coming from underneath. I quickly removed it and inspected the motor. Based on the odor and the fact I saw no other indication, I assumed it was probably the wire coming from the contact rollers. I can't see the wire very well but I can see the solder connection which looks horrible. There was some serious rewiring done to this engine before I received it. I've been wanting to remove the entire roller assembly to replace that wire and solder connection. Any clues how to do this without breaking the assembly? Does the assembly flex so the tabs can be pulled out of the frame or does the frame need to be taken apart (which means removing wheels, gears, etc.)?
Welcome to the forum, Bill. I think you may be on the right track regarding the source of your problem. Check to see if the wires connected to the pick-up rollers are shorting out against part of the metal frame. If so, you could use some electrical tape to insulate the pick-up roller wire from whatever it's rubbing against.
Hello, newbie here. I just joined what looks like a great forum. I have a question/problem right of the bat. I have a Lionel 254E engine that is enjoying changing directions all by itself. I'm running it on a 40"x60" oval and sometimes it will make a complete trip around before it changes direction. Other times it will only make it the length of two straight tracks before it changes. If I connect power to it and hold it in my hand it never changes which leads me to believe it may a problem with the pickup wheels. I've cleaned the track and wheels with no difference in operation.
A little history. I actually have two of these engines. I took one in to have a stripped gear replaced and the guy told me the armature was also bad. Turns out only one of the three commutators work. He recommended finding another decent engine and swapping bodies. I found one but it had some kind of e-unit from a steam loco wired into it that was just floating around under the body. I tested it and it ran great but did not change directions. I proceeded to remove the loco e-unit from it and took the e-unit from the engine with the stripped gear and installed it on the new one. The result is an engine that runs but with a mind of it's own when it comes to direction.
I'd really appreciate any assistance on this problem. I've looked all over the internet for ideas and come up empty.
Thanks, Bill
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