I love seeing the younger generation involved in the hobby. I know the lack of respect some folks get the younger modelers. I once attended a show and asked the folks running the huge hi rail layout if I could run my engine so I could take some pics of it on a nice big layout. I got the "sure ok" along with the rolling of his eyes. When I returned and unboxed a reissue NYC scale hudson, fitted with TMCC and Railsounds 2.5, the jaws dropped. Guess a 15yr old wasnt supposed to own one of the best engines on the market at that time. This is pre MTH going nuts with scale engines. Getting that engine took me a whole years worth of shop credit I earned fixing trains. My 2 cents is leave the E unit with its buzz. That sound, along with the smell of the electric motor running and the smoke smell are all part of the Lionel experience IMHO. I would never give up the coffee grinder sound of my early 2333 F3's, along with the ozone and hot oil smell, it screams post war Lionel. Cheers Mike
Silly NT's, I have Asperger's Syndrome
A wheel puller for '0' gauge wheels can be purchased, or has been suggested, modified from an automobile battery terminal puller. Some filing/grinding will need to be done to get it to fit properly.
Wheel cups in a rivet/wheel press are used to properly press on and quarter the wheels. Other methods have been devised by those that do not wish to purchase an expensive tool for a one time job.
Larry
there was an article years ago in CTT that shows how to make a wheel puller from a battery terminal puller available at any auto parts store.
Dave
It's a TOY, A child's PLAYTHING!!! (Woody from Toy Story)
What did you use to pull off and press on the center drive wheels?
I see no clear reason why I should grow up...
excatly. I have a gunmetal 225E,a 1664 I changed to a 2-6-2,and a Postwar 1666 that I rebuilt from bare shells. Cost effective, maybe not. But I sure enjoyed the projects.
Just keep at it,
Over the course of a year & a half I built a 671 from spare parts found in junk bins at the train shows, I must have spent 2x the money to buy everything as separate parts and I had a heck of a struggle with pressing on & off wheels to replace worn axle bushings.....but I don't think I'll ever sell that engine the pride of "making a lionel engine" your self is wonderful. Keep us up to date!
-Jason
Thank you Mr. Barker. I've been taking photos as I go.
She runs! Better than I expected anyway. The motor is quiet, and the e-unit is quiet as well and works perfectly. The engine runs smoothly for the most part. It has a slight waddle that I suspect is caused by one of the drivers being loose on the axle, so once I take it apart for cleaning and such I'll see what I can do with that. If I feel it's beyond my level of skill I know a man in my hometown who has done some work for me before and he should be able to fix it.
I've decided to not go too crazy on her, and give her a proper 736 boiler front instead of the 2065 front, and a 4 wheel trailing truck too (though I may still get a two wheel one to switch out when the mood strikes).
I'm investing in a beginner's soldering iron (though I doubt I'll need it), an airbursh (I'm going to attempt repainting the engine and tender myself), and a copy of Greenberg's Repair and Operating Manual for Lionel Trains, 1945-1969, as I've been told is a pretty invaluable source of info to have.
Unless I manage to get some free time before May, this project may be on hold until after the summer. I'm a professional actor/singer/dancer and have just signed a contract that will keep me busy from the beginning of May till the end of August. (with hopefully some more job offers to come after that lol). But as things happen I will post them here.
Nick
Nick! :)
I hope the project turns out well. It sounds good so far!
Project update: She's starting to look like an engine again! The chassis I bought came today, and it (like the shells) look much better than in the photos. To get an idea of what it looks like I put the shell on the chassis, and it's currently sitting like that on my bookshelf until I get a minute to test it out later.
Sounds like a plan!
That is very true. :)
Project update: The chassis picture above (yes, I bought it), should be arriving in the mail today. I'm going to do some tests and cleaning, and mayhaps some tuning if needed.
I'm also purchasing a soldering iron and an airbrush. I've decided to test my hand at repainting the engine myself, and I feel like the soldering iron is just generally useful to have around.
This is true. I HAVE always wanted to go to York ;) South Carolina is a bit far from PA though. I'm moving to NYC at the end of the year which is a bit closer, so mayhaps next year.
don't judge all shows by a few inconcederate people. One thing I remember from my youth, is going to the US Air Force Museum with my Dad. We got to meet the Director. I had gotten used to being ignored while the adults talked. But Colonel Upstrum not only talked to Dad, but he talked to me, because he could see I had a real interest in the history. I still get ignored by dealers, but unless they have soething I really want, I buy elsewhere.
Ah, my mistake. The description said nickle and I can't really tell the difference.
While that may be true, that's not the road I want to go. It's a labor of love, really. I don't much care for meets and shows, I feel so out of place and excluded by the older generations. I went to one once and was only acknowledged by a dealer when he realized I was about to drop about $400 at his table.
This does not have nickel rims or drivers, this is a basic run-of-the-mill 736 chassis with sintered iron drivers in poor condition & needing a lot of work.
For this kind of $$ you can get a complete 736 in better condition that this at a meet or show.
Rob
I'm considering purchasing this item. Thoughts?
Were some 736s released with nickled drivers like these? Or do you think it was added after?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lionel-736-Chasis-Side-Rods-Motor-E-Unit-Smoke-Unit-Cow-Catcher-Pick-Ups-/151256464827?pt=Model_RR_Trains&hash=item2337967dbb
@ teledoc : Thank you! I thought it might be. Even if it wasn't I was going to restore it as one anyway :)
@servoguy: I'll take a look at it!
Project update: So as of now the shells (along with the shells of a 2351 observation car and 2343 F3, which are projects for a later date), are in my possession and are sitting on my bookshelf. The bent cab roof corner is actually not as bad as it seemed in the picture, and had I not seen it in the picture, I probably wouldn't have noticed it, it's so slight.
I'm currently considering the purchase of a chassis I have found; it has the wheels, rod assembly, motor, eunit, and smoke unit, all of which except the smoke unit work. I'm going to replace it with a liquid one anyway, so that's no matter. It also comes with the steam chest, but it seems to have been sloppily welded or soldered together, so I'm probably going to replace it.
Since it's a total rebuild with no collectible value, I'm going to customize it a bit. I'm going to give it a 2065 boiler front (I love the feed water heater) and buy a 2 wheel trailing truck as well as a 4 wheel trailing truck so I can switch it from a 2-8-2 to a 2-8-4 whenever the mood so strikes me. I will be lettering the tender for Lionel Lines and giving it the number 736 though, as I can't really think of a fictional road name I really like. I may even give it a completely different tender, and save the 2671 for another project I may be tackling in the future. Color wise I'm still going for it's original black, but I'm considering painting the cab roof red.
If anyone has any other suggestions, or any articles or threads they might want to recommend (especially on the tuning of motors and e units, should if be needed), please do!
Here is a link to a post I did a year ago on straightening bent cab roofs.
http://www.modeltrainforum.com/showthread.php?t=16951
Your Tender shell is the 2671WX, which is the Lionel Lines shell and the three holes in the rear for the backup light kit. It came out in 1951-1952, and was the 12 wheel version. The 2671W was stamped "Pennsylvania" versus the "Lionel Lines" stamped 2671WX tender.
If you consider trying to straighten it out, you should know the zinc is malleable between 100 and 150 °C, but brittle at most other temperatures.
Bob Nelson
Also, in this photo it appears that one of the cab roof corners is a bit bent, which I was aware of before I paid for it. I remember seeing an article in CTT about fixing this, but of course no longer have the issue. Can anyone tell me how this can be fixed?
I'm still very torn about the smoke unit. I had a 2055 a few years ago with a liquid smoke unit and it was fine, but on the other hand I think putting the pellet unit in it would be cool.
Smoke?
I prefer to stay with Smoke pellets. They are readily available. I like the smell, and they do not create any oily residue.
Wow, thanks for the quick responses guys, they've definitely helped. If anyone else has any general advice I'd really appreciate it.
I also scored the shell of a 2343 A unit and a 2531 observation car, but I'm setting those aside till after the 736.
BigAl 956 At minimum consider a liquid smoke conversion in the locomotive.
At minimum consider a liquid smoke conversion in the locomotive.
IMO not necessary. When I got my 646 Hudson a couple or three years ago I was all concerned about putting a liquid smoke conversion. So I figured since I'd be replacing the smoke unit anyway I went ahead and ran liquid smoke in the OE unit. It has been smoking like a popular BBQ joint ever since. Needless to say I've left it in place.
Pete
"You can’t study the darkness by flooding it with light." - Edward Abbey -
Yep that will silence the buzz.
Or put a rectifier on the e-unit coil.
Cheese I just purchased the shells of a 736 Berkshire and tender off ebay (not sure if it's a 2046w or a 2671w, is there a way to tell since the shells look so alike?)
I just purchased the shells of a 736 Berkshire and tender off ebay (not sure if it's a 2046w or a 2671w, is there a way to tell since the shells look so alike?)
The shells are identical. The difference is the trucks. The 2671 uses 6-wheel trucks and is the most desirable.
Cheese 2. I want to replace the buzzing e unit with an electronic one. Who makes these?
2. I want to replace the buzzing e unit with an electronic one. Who makes these?
There are a number of electronic e-units available but finding space is going to be a problem. You're probably going to have to mount the electronics in the tender. As long as you are going to do this have you considered just going all-in and doing a full an Electric Railroad TMCC conversion with sound?
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