just took out my old 2026 for grandkids, havent run for several years.. ran for a while, but now there is electricity to engine but will not turn wheels. engine was warm but not hot. Trainmaster transformer 1034 75 watts is operating --directional button cuts off/on power. any thoughts on why?
Could be a number of things. Do the drivers turn freely, that is no binding at all? since you've established there's power to the track, is there any change when the E-unit lever is rocked back and forth?
You may just have an E-unit's that decided to give up the ghost, your symptoms sound very much like what happened to a Lionel 224 I've got.
A good way to check if you've got an electrical meter is to take the boiler shell off the locomotive and meter the wiring to see if power's getting to the E-unit. If it's getting in, but not coming out, there's your problem. Considering the age of the 2026 it's a definate possibility.
A quick fix, and what I did, is to remove the E-unit entirely and run the pick-up leads directly to the motor for forward-only operation.
In my case it was easy to tell, my 224 E-unit died in a shower of sparks!
Hello Dougd,
If it is the early 2026 from '48 and '49, it will have brushes in brush tubes. I have seen these brushes heat up and stick in the tubes, and the spring is not able to push the brush back down to touch the commutator. The solution would be to remove the brush plate, and clean the inside of the brush tube with a pipe cleaner, and alcohol. And clean the brushes, too. You may wind up replacing the brushes , if this is the problem. I have had this problem twice,with the brushes heating up , and grease and gunk inside the brush tubes causes them to stick. Both engines I was able to clean, and run them for a while, but had the problem return, and have replaced the brushes, and the problem has been resolved.
At any rate, you should not run this engine any more until it is cleaned, and lubricated.
Take Care,
Paul
Could be one of a few problems. First are the wheels clean? Second the brushes and armature at the motor area could be dirty. Third you could have a bad E unit, the part that reverses the engine direction. Fourth and maybe very likely it is locked into nuetral position on the E unit. Try cleaning the wheels first and see what happens.
I have a few Lionel steam engines, pre war and post war; 224E, a 224, and a 2016. Very important to clean the track and engine wheels. If you have a smoking engine it is extremely important to clean your track and engine wheels more often.
Lee Fritz
Carrying on from what Lee said, the metal switch on top push one way if nothing then try it another way You should hear a slight buzzing from the e-unit if it is not in the locked (over-ride position)
Life's hard, even harder if your stupid John Wayne
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Thanks folks for your replies---sounds more likely that she is just worn out--the buzzing is there with the metal switch, the wheels turn easily, there is good electricity to the engine.
I might take it apart and look for the other indicators you have mentioned
Thanks Merry Christmas
doug
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