After more than 57 years, I don't always work either.
An update on this subject .... taking the sage advice "if it ain't broke don't fix it", I noticed that when more voltage is applied to the 2055 the e unit works fine. That said, I can run it at 14 - 16 V and the e unit usually works but when it doesn't cycle properly I can just apply some more power and it cycles fine. Don't know why but maybe just a quirk after 57 years!
Success, don't mess with it.
Don't fix stuff that ain't broke!
If it's working, I'd leave it alone.
I took the shell off the 2055 last evening and was able to bend the lever a bit which seemed to be the problem. I ran it back and forth many times without any issue. I did notice from time to time that the "buzz" of the e unit would drop to a humm. Finally I situated the lever nice and tight on the contact and the engine performed properly. I did look to remove the e unit to check the internals but could not find a way to do it. How is that done?? I did watch the video but could not get to that point. Stalled at this point and the engine performing well, I put the shell back on and ran it for a while. The e unit worked properly about 95% of the time .... every once in while it would not catch and would continue to moved forward. A gentle "jiggle" on the e unit lever and all is good. I can live with it in this condition but my sense is that something else is not right. Thoughts??
If it is stuck, a rap on the locomotive will probably dislodge it; but it will soon stick again. My experience is that the problem is neither dirt nor magnetization of the slug, but notches worn into the drum at the base of the teeth. The hook or pawl catches in one of these after turning the drum and then will not fall without being jostled. A new drum will of course fix this; but it is also possible to shave the teeth with a small chisel without removing the drum from the e-unit (very hard to replace) and get another half-century's use from it.
However, from your description, I am hopeful that the lever is the problem. It is much easier to fix.
Bob Nelson
Don't lube the plunger, I use contact cleaner to flush out any crud that might be keeping it from dropping free, It should move very freely in the coil.
What happens if the hook arrangement is stuck??? Does any component need lubrication?? I'll check the lever, I have a feeling that could be the issue.
Okay. The e-unit is not stepping as it should. It is either getting stuck; or the solenoid is getting disconnected.
The e-unit comprises a coil, called a solenoid, on top. When you apply voltage to the locomotive, the solenoid should suck up into its middle an iron slug with a hook hinged to its bottom. The hook should pull a tooth on a plastic drum below and turn it 1/8 revolution every time you start the locomotive.
It seems that the drum is not turning. This could be because the slug-hook affair is stuck in the up position, or because the solenoid is disconnected from the track voltage. The lever that you have been fiddling with is the switch for enabling the solenoid. It has an L shape, with a pivot at the corner of the L. The short arm of the L should contact a rivet on a small insulating board to connect the solenoid. It is likely that, after all this time, the board has warped enough that the arm is no longer making reliable contact.
Check first to see whether the hook arrangement is stuck in the up position (when the problem is present). If not, the culprit is probably the arm. An easy fix is to bend the short arm of the L toward the board with some stout long-nosed pliers, so that it makes reliable contact again.
It goes forward every time
When it's doing forward only, is it forward every time you start the locomotive, or forward every fourth time, with an extra neutral where reverse should be?
A good start to servicing PW Lionel E-Units is two Youtube videos starting with this one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3cHF_a6CNM
Regards,
CJ Meyers
After appx 56 years of on and off perfect service, the e-unit on my 2055 is acting up. Most of the time it wants go forward (better than reverse). I do jiggle the lever from time to time and it does go in f-n-r but after running a while I loose the direction capabilities and it reverts to fwd only. I know NOTHING about e-units and would appreciate any suggestions, help or otherwise direction to repair this quircky e-unit.
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