A Problem Lionel 2025

[MickeyDemian]

Hello All:

  Last year I rebuilt the e unit on my 2025 steamer with all new contacts and drum.  This xmas it ran fine on my under the tree layout, and then just died with no power to the motor at all very suddenly.  I took it apart tonight (the wait was due to pent up frustration) and the unit cycles fine with power leads from my transformer applied to the pickup and one wheel, but the motor never runs.  When I apply power with leads to the motor alone bypassing the eunit it runs fine. (Ive got it apart now)  My question is , do i have to rip apart the whole eunit and check the contacts to see if they touch the drum or can someone point toward one or two main wires to check their connection.  I wiggle the wires around on the eunit and nothing positive happens.  As a newbie I was proud of rebuilding the eunit but now I'm frustrated and am looking for a checklist of things to check with the most probable being first, from a veteran of these problems.  How do you guys attack a situation like this?  I feel its something simple, but I don't know where to start without a total tear down of the eunit.  Thanks for any help.

                                                       Mickey Demian

 

 

[TRAINCAT]

Mickey,

Its likely that the E unit has a problem if it was running ok before. If the motor has the old post war wiring make sure that none of the insulation is missing and maybe touching something it should not. E units can be tricky to do if you are new to it. I would take it apart and see whats up. Make sure you are not pinching the smoke unit or headlamp wire when you put it back together. This is a common mistake when reassembling one of these.

Roger

[lionelsoni]

With voltage applied to the locomotive, try poking each e-unit finger with a toothpick.  If only one is not touching the drum, you may find it.  If not, step the e-unit, which might have been in neutral, and repeat the poking.

If you do find a troublesome finger, holler.  There's a way to tighten it up without opening the e-unit.

[MickeyDemian]

Thanks--I will try it and get back to you.

                                            Mickey