Who Repairs Lionel 253 Motors?

[MickeyDemian]

Thank you all for the insight into the repair of my train.

                         Thanks,  Mickey

[servoguy]

Easy way to fix the insulation on old locos is to unsolder one end and crack the old insulation off of the wire.  Then insulate the wire with shrink tubing and resolder the end.  No need to remove the pickup roller plate.  I have a 152 from the '20s that got this treatment, and it runs just fine.  Quick and easy.

[Roadmaster]

Hi MICKEYDEMIAN,

Try Joe Mania.  http://www.jlmtrains.com/.  I've used his stamps.  He's easy to work with.  And He's been around a while.  

Have you cleaned the motor brushes, collector rollers & wheel rims?  A little dirt can cause big problems

I've rebuilt 2 of these motors. split the frame on one to rewind the field coil.  It's a long process.  I'm retired so I have time. The threaded rod will not work.  This is a plate frame motor.  It depends on the frame spacers to maintain the parallel & square of the plates.  A little out of alignment & the motor binds or the wheels won't touch the track evenly.  Here is a repair story similar to yours.  http://modelsteam.myfreeforum.org/archive/lionel-152-electric__o_t__t_37775.html

If your engine isn't a collectable, try soldering a wire to the outside of the collector spring (pickup not to the name plate)and running it to the e-unit   That is quick & dirty and will tell you if that is all that's wrong. 

If you need to remove the collector plate assembly, wedge the frame plates apart a little at each end with tapered wooden blocks to loosen the tabs, then use a screw driver to pry out the assembly.  Careful or you will break the center tabs.  leave the wedges in place.  Repair or replace the collector and remove the wedges

Roadmaster

[phillyreading]

I have a 249E engine in pre war Lionel and have not seen what you describe. It just has flat tip screws to remove for access to the motor area and brushes. Unless you are talking about the E unit, which is the reversing unit that has wires going to it, that might be rivoted but the motor area was never rivoted to the best of my knowledge.

[TRAINCAT]

Try getting a hold of "The motor doctor". He can help out. You might also try Joe Mania. My buddy also fixes them. Joe Lechleider- 336-407-3539. He is in in Winston Salem, NC

Roger

[MickeyDemian]

Hello:

  My Lionel 253 pre war engine runs in a very inconsistant jerky fashion.  At the same time,  the two lights flicker along with this pattern of movement.  I'm thinking that possibly the pickup wire has a poor solder connection, not to mention that the other wiring is old and cracked.  I repalced some of it , but the main wires I can't access.  In looking at splitting the motor to gain access to these connections, I see it is held together by peened over posts.  I do not have a press to reassemble this.  Is there another way?  Has anyone ever reassembled the motors with small threaded rods after disassembly?  I'm new to these motors so tell me your methods of repair?  Also, when I have it apart I suppose the brass bushings should be checked, and repalcing them, if necessary,  is way above my expertise.  Does anyone have the name of a quality repair man that reworks these motors?  Thanks for any help  or advice.

                            Mickey