This is probably an age-old discussion but I must have missed it! I need to replace the pick-up plate on the bottom of my #2026 motor and I am at a loss on how to do it. I've read model train forums about spreading the frame and the various methods on how to do it but it all sounds like it isn't the best way to accomplish this. I don't know that I have much choice however becasue I do not want to remove the wheels to make the room for inserting a new plate. I do not have a tool that would apply enough pressure on the bottom of the frame to spread it enough to take out the old plate and add the new on. Does any one have a successful experience doing this and what tool(s) were used. Thanks, Steve
You have two options, that work fairly successfull. There is a Frame Spreading tool, part ST-350 FST, sold by Jeff Kane (Toy Train Tender), for $25.00. It is a little tricky to use, but once you get the hang of it, it works. You will also need a very thin blad flat screwdriver, to pry the tabs out of the frame sides. The second option is to buy a fairly heavy duty Snap Ring pliers, which you put between the side frames, squeeze the pliers, to spread the sides apart, and use the screwdriver in the same manner as above. You have to spread the frame again, to maneuver the new plate, back into position. Both have worked for me.
Also, consider trimming one side of the new plate to the very minimum thickness that will hold it in place, to minimize the amount you will have to spread. Assuming that the plate you're replacing is probably trash, you can just cut it out, with no spreading needed.
Bob Nelson
Golden,
Why do you have to replace the pick-up plate? I have only taken 1 out and that was on a 2026, and it wasn't that nice. Since I was going to reuse it I worried the whole time about breaking it. Unless your power wire coming up is broken I wouldn't do it. If your wire is cracked or somehow wire exposed, I would slip a piece of small diameter shrink tubing down over it. That would be sufficeint for short protection. My original 2026 the pick-up plate didn't look good, that is why I removed it, but after careful inspection and cleaning was just fine. I have repaired other Lionel locomotives that had a broken wire by finding and alternative location to solder my wire if the wire is broken. I do that just to avoid taking it out.
The 2026 was our first Lionel Locomotive the Christmas of 1948. I like to say my dad got it in anticipation of my arrival shortly after, but it was for my two older brothers. They had Marx trains previously. We became an all Lionel solution by the late 50s, I remember my older brother replacing the Marx switches as we got more Lionel.
That original 2026 was a fun engine. Smoked real well and went like the dickens, which resulted in a broken marker light. In the scheme of things it became a light engine after we aquired some of the other Lionel offerings. For the play ware, and use that thing saw, and with little maintenance that engine started every time, the e-unit always worked, and it always ran well. I liked the looks of it and it was always prominent in my train cabinet.
I aquired several others over the years, being a little disappointed with the paint appearance and broken marker light. I was always looking for a like new one. In the mid to late 90s I found that one. In and around 2003 while on assignment and away from home I took our original with me to tinker on and see how I could clean it up and better its appearance. I completely disassembled and cleaned it all. Washing the body shell and some minor touch up, other than the missing marker light when I reassembled it, it looked great. I gave it to my nephew for Christmas that year. Now he has gotten into collecting them and probably has more than I.
So in closing, just take your time and figure what you have to do. Other than cleaning, my original is as close to original as they come, it looks good, and runs good.
You see your inquiry the other day about the 3 or 4 window and now your 2026 power pickup has the juices flowing with me today. Like I said and you probably can tell, I have a sweet spot for the 2026, especially the 48/49 model.
If you been around this forum for any time you probably haven't seen much from me. I have been discouraged with the trains and not doing much with them. Our present house just isn't good for a permanet layout. At the same time I still like to go out and see what others are doing in the hobby. That is why I went over to the Amhurst Trainshow two weeks ago. One to introduce my nephew to that train show, and to just have a day out with the trains.
I like to follow certain people on this forum, as I feel it speaks to my mind and helps me to grow. Liionel trains were instrumental in my growing up, and helped me develop certain skills that I felt helped me later in my work. They also were a stress outlet at times, and when my children were young, I introduced them too to trains.
Your posting on the 2026 makes me think. When I say that we aquired our first Lionel in the form of a 2026 back in 1948, it is ironic that the railroad my grandfather worked for was in their final year of steam. Yet it is he and my mother who got us started.
The 2026 being a small Praire would be on the size of the steam locomotives my grandfather would run, although he ran mainly 10 wheelers.
By 1953 steam was mostly gone here in the Hudson Valley, and my first rememberance of seeing live steam was on a vacation to Vermont, and a trip down to Port Jervis both in the mid to late 1950s, The NYC 999 visited our city on some anniversary around then, but steam was disappearing.
In and around 1968 while I was at work Ross Roland ran one of his steam special through our town. Then in 1975 after college my boss asked me if I wanted to go with him to move to Vermont, and I thought of moving over there. Steamtown was still there. There was the American Freedom train, and then as I got to travel I saw more steam trains and museums.
Ironic 1948, and steam is going, we aquire our 2026. 70 years later and we still talk about steam and 2026s. Lionel has a big offering of steam these days. My grandfather is gone, and I think of him steaming. I also think of taking a 2026 and making one up in a Rutland Road paint scheme. I think it is the perfect one to do it with. RS1s, 2026s, Bob Nelson's capacative discharge for 0-27 switches, and people like my nephew and you now. Who thought it would keep going like it is. I look forward to UP's 2014 getting back out on the road.
Anyhow thanks for contributing to the forum, and happy train days.
Alank,
Thanks for the great come back. I really enjoy hearing other folks stories about how they got started in trains. Like you I got started early with my brother's Marx set which I still have. In 1953 my folks bought me a pair of Marx Santa Fe diesels, (#1095) and a pair of (scale?) NYC passenger cars. At the time I didn't know or care that ATSF did not normally pull NYC passenger cars, I was just thrilled with the train. My Marx train collection continued to grow with the small amount of birthday and Chrismas money I would receive from my aunt and uncle. Of course JC Penny Company discounted their trains after Christmas so I waited until then. I didn not have layout space for my trains so I would set them on the dining room floor on winter weekends. My interest cintinued to grow and soon it included Lionel. Today I have a reasonalbe collection of both Marx and Lionel but still no layout. I need to replace the collector plate on my #2026 becasue I discovered that a portion of the collector plate right next to the slider show on one end had broken off and although it will still run I plan to put the engine on E-Bay since I acquired an ever nicer one that the one I had. I don't want to pass my collector plate problem on to someone else to fix so I really do want to replace it. Take care, Steve
Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.
Get the Classic Toy Trains newsletter delivered to your inbox twice a month