Sticking E-Unit

[lionelsoni]

Interrupting the coil voltage should cause the armature to fall, not rise.

Does the e-unit cycle properly when removed from the locomotive (with the e-unit's frame grounded)?

[rtraincollector]

get some CRC electronic cleaner at your big top harware store then spray it. let it sit and completely dry out, unless you like some small fires. Highly flamable and suggest you do it outside in well vented area.

[cwburfle]

Does it stick while outside the motor chassis.
If not, check the pin that holds the pawl to the armature (slug).
Check the insides of the motor where the e-unit goes. Maybe it's grimey or has some grease on it.
I had one locomotive where the pin was just a bit too long, and was binding against the insides of the motor side.

[gottcent]

I just redid the E-unit on a Lionel Postwar 2025 (1952 version) steamer. I installed new fingers, a new drum, and new wires. While I had the unit disassembled I cleaned the solenoid tube and the plunger with TV tuner cleaner. The plunger moves freely up and down inside the tube.

The problem is, for the most part, the unit will not cycle as it should when power is disrupted/restored. I'm pretty sure the wiring is OK because it does work properly some times. But often, interupting the power will not cause the plunger to raise up in the tube.

Again, I can raise it up and down manually. I tried to ever so slightly bend open the sides of the unit in case it was mechanically binding, but when I insert the unit back into position, the sides must compress again in order to fit in place.

Any thoughts?

John