Lionel 681 ballast (?) removal

[ADCX Rob]

RAM126

Pictures are inserted.

No pics in either post.

[ADCX Rob]

No pic in this post.

[cwburfle]

I cannot see any of the three pictures. There are just empty little placeholders.

[ADCX Rob]

Take out the two screws holding down the ballast and lube the axle bushings with synthetic motor oil, working in to the friction surfaces.

[RAM126]

This is what it looks like:

I called it a ballast, but am not sure what it is.

[cwburfle]

As far as I know, a 681 has magnetraction, and should not have a ballast weight.
I have been working on a couple of them recently, and noticed that the frame is drilled and tapped for the ballast, even though its not there.

[ADCX Rob]

[RAM126]

  I recently purchased a 681 with the knowledge that the wheels weren't turning due to dried grease.  I was able to access and free-up the end wheels (671-236) under the worm wheel (671-180) and the center wheel set (671-235) in front of that.  The next center wheel set and the the front-most end wheels  are very stiff and hard to turn.  I have sprayed them Simple Green, carburetor cleaner, and Kroil; but, they don't move as freely as the other sets.   I can't access their area to clean better as I could with the prior sets because of a ballast (?) that is situated in front of the E-Unit and on top of the smoke lever.  I was wondering if anyone could tell me how to remove the ballast.  I don't see and screws and it doesn't pull out.  Pictures are inserted.