Hello. I am putting together my layout for my Christmas tree, and have a strange problem with my 1933 Lionel 400e (my grandfather's train). The loco will only run in reverse. The loco has an automatic reverse mechanism which has never been a problem before. I have tried two different transformers. Loco runs in reverse just beautifully, but I cannot get it to run forward. Can you suggest anything? Is there a way to disengage the automatic reverse feature so I can just run forwards? Thank you!
I think that the "automatic reverse feature" is already disengaged and that is likely your problem. I don't have information here about the 400e, but it is likely that the reversing unit (or "e-unit", so named because of the "e" in the prewar model number that indicates its presence) is disabled. This might be done with a switch somewhere on the locomotive or by a plug and socket arrangement on the brush plate of the motor.
Bob Nelson
Thank you so much for your quick response! I will take a look tonight and see if I can see something disconnected that should be 'connected'. Happy Holidays!
julian
A quick check is to hold it upside down and shake it up and down a couple of times. See if this loosens the E-unit any.
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