E-unit Reassembly Question

[EIS2]

I have gotten fairly proficient at reassembling e-units.  However, I was reassembling an e-unit yesterday and had a devil of a time getting the drum to stay in place long enough to clamp the sides back together.  The problem is that the drum drops out of place and gets$1****$2eyed in the assembly which often resulted in the electrical fingers getting distorted.  I have used both tweezers and occasionally needle-nose pliers to try and position the drum. 

What is the best way to position and hold the drum for e-unit reassembly?

Earl

[alank]

They make a tool that holds the drum with a spring, once you have the drum locked in place you just retract the tool.   I don't have it, but have seen it.   It looks like it would work pretty good.

[alank]

Earl,,

      Here is the link to the tool I was mentioning...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/LIONEL-E-UNIT-ASSEMBLY-JIG-ANVIL-AND-SERVICE-PACK-/230595271026?pt=Model_RR_Trains&hash=item35b08c9972

If you do a lot of work and are all thumbs, it probably has merit...For the ocassional e-unit that is another story.   I was thinking of ways to help, but have to experiment first.   I use the needle nose pliers when I do it, but I am sure there are other good solutions.

 

[EIS2]

Thank you for your replies and the link to the tool.  I don't do enough e-unit repairs to justify purchasing the tool.  Maybe with more practice I will get better.

Earl

[servoguy]

I have only taken on E unit a part, and when I did, I bent the sides slightly to get the drum out.  When I reassembled the unit, the only part that I had to re-install was the drum.  I don't recall that it was very difficult.  After the drum was in place, I bent the sides back straight.  I think to use the Lionel repair method might require a person to grow a third arm.

[Anonymous]

EIS2,  Why not build a fixture for your own use?  Here is a link to picture of one I built.  If you are handy with saw, chisel & soldering iron, it will take a couple of hours.  I used scrap wood & sheet metal from a tin can for the clamp.  Tack two squares  of metal together, then use tin snips to make the fingers & the bracket to hold the fingers on a 1/4" dowel.  It doesn't need to be made to last forever for home use.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/54020227@N07/sets/72157628108208266/

[EIS2]

Your e-unit tool looks like it will do the trick and is quite ingenious.  I assume you have to insert the drum behind the pawl on the plunger prior to using your tool.  Is that correct? 

Earl