Do Lionel Magnetraction Steam Engines Have Steel Side Rods?

[rack776]

Hi I was wondering if anyone can answer a question I have about a Lionel 8801 Blue Comet from 1979-

I noticed the side rods & valve gear on my engine are made of chromed steel and "stick" to the magnetic wheels - it does run smoothly with no binding but I was wondering if someone might have swapped non magnetraction parts on to this engine?  The only other locomotives I have are from the late 1947 and 1949 they have plated brass side rods and no magnetraction.

Are plated steel side rods original on a 1970s Lionel Steamer with magnetraction?   It seems odd to me that the moving parts tend to "rub" together on the cross heads.

Thanks for the Help!  - Jason

[Papa_D]

Just checked the side rods on my 2035 and  2037 steam engines with a bar magnet. Both are magnetic.

[lionelsoni]

I checked a 2037 and a 773--magnetic and non-magnetic, respectively.

[rack776]

Thanks for the replys guys - I guess the rods might be the originals then.

Does anyone know a source to buy a set of replacement drive gears for this engine? My loco runs pretty well but the plastic gears have some wear and slop in them and make me nervous they are going to wear out jam up some day.  ( I do oil & grease my trains before I run them each time)

I'd like to find a back up set of gears to replace the factory plastic ones with metal ones if it is possible. At the least I'd like to have a set of replacement plastic ones on hand if I ever wear out a gear.  Anyone know the part numbers for Fundimensions era Lionel stuff?    

I usually check the Olsens site for postwar service manual  pages but I dont see anything for the 1970s trains listed.

Thanks Again!

-Jason Rackawack

[ADCX Rob]