Here is my best score at yesterday's train show at the Washington County Ag Center. It's a Lionel 726RR, with 2046W tender. The picture was taken on the carpet loop, before I cleaned and lubricated the Berkshire. Cosmetically, it's tip-top. The seller said it has a faulty E-Unit, but upon "waking" it up, I describe it as tempermental. Smokes great, whistles great, and still has all of its ornaments. Oh yeah, hundred bucks.
"He shoots, he SCORES!"
Great find! And for $100 you can't beat it! I'd say spray out the e-unit with some elctrical contact cleaner, that could be all it needs, but I'm sure you don't need any advice from me.
Spraying the E unit is one thing.
GETTING to it's another. Woof.
fifedog Spraying the E unit is one thing. GETTING to it's another. Woof.
It's gotta be in there somewhere. Your job? Find it!
It's funny, today, after months of not getting to it, I returned to a 1951-1953 2026 I'd been working on. My task for the evening was to get the E-Unit back together- an endevor in which I did, in fact, succeed!
That's a lovely berkshire you've got Fife... I'm still sore over my disaster Berkshire that I own. I think there might be hope for it, but it needs an entire new motor, and the worm wheel needs to be slid back into the center of the axle... well, it would be nice. I guess for now I'll just drool over yours!
-Ellie
Thanks folks. After a couple of carpet sessions, all I need to do is add some weight around the rear tender truck, as it wants to "walk" off the rail, under load, as if it doesn't have enough coupler swing. Weird, but, ok.
El Fixes ThingsMy task for the evening was to get the E-Unit back together- an endevor in which I did, in fact, succeed!
Well done Ellie! I tried to rebuild an e-unit but couldn't figure out how to do it without growing a third hand. I tried but haven't managed it yet.
Wayne, it's no easy task, make no mistake- but it is very much possible. The trick is to do everything in a certain order, and carefully squeeze the sides with your hand while you're getting the parts in place, so they are more likely to stay put.It doesn't make it easy, just possible! Usually takes me 5-10 tries, or something like that... but eventually I manage to get it all back in there. The part that makes it challenging is keeping the E-Unit drum in position throughout the whole ordeal, the tension from the contact fingers tends to want to shift it out of position.Anyhow, here's the order I do it in:1. install plunger/pawl, make sure the pawl pin rides in the slots in the E-Unit side frames2. install the 4-finger contact where it belongs, making sure that the nubs go into their pockets in the E-Unit frame3. Line up the rivet/pin that holds the two sides of the E-Unit frame together, but don't snap it back into place- just make sure the rivet is lined up with the hole it goes into4. Try your best to get the E-unit drum into position between the pawl and the 4-finger contact- try to locate one end of the drum into the hole on one of the E-unit frame sides. Make absolutely sure the teeth are pointing the right way!! This is the step you're most likely to need to repeat 50 times before you get it.5. With the E-Unit drum somewhat in position, attempt to install the 2-finger contact. The drum may move on you- you can shift it back. But you need the drum to go in first, whether or not it's perfectly lined up. Make sure the nubs on the 2-finger assembly line up with at least one of their locating pockets in the E-Unit frame. 6. Start squeezing the frame together more- still with hands (or a vice if that works out). With pressure pushing the sides of the E-Unit frame together gently, carefully make sure everything is lined up to fit into it's corresponding hole/pocket in the E-Unit frame. Once it's all lined up, squeeze the sides together completely- gently tap with a hammer, or squeeze with a vice. It should snap back together- at which point you're all set!Beware, it can be easy to bend the contact fingers during reassembly if you're not being very careful about it (and sometimes even if you are!), if the fingers get bent you will have to pull things apart, bend them back, and start over! -Ellie
WOW Fife, great buy, you will never regret that one.
Joined 1-21-2011 TCA 13-68614
Kev, From The North Bluff Above Marseilles IL.
Flintlock76 El Fixes Things My task for the evening was to get the E-Unit back together- an endevor in which I did, in fact, succeed! Well done Ellie! I tried to rebuild an e-unit but couldn't figure out how to do it without growing a third hand. I tried but haven't managed it yet.
El Fixes Things My task for the evening was to get the E-Unit back together- an endevor in which I did, in fact, succeed!
Wayne, if I can do it you can! Not near as hard Ellie makes it sound. Lots of good advice but don't let it sacre you off. Key is the spreader tool.
Good advice from both of you! Thanks!
I remember it the next time I try an e-unit rebuild, with a little shot of "Maker's Mark" for courage!
Another shot of the 726RR on the bridge at Blues Beach.
Might as well give equal billing to the rest of my PW fleet. My childhood 2026 at Cumberland Bolt & Forge.
2035 rounding the bend at the new vineyard.
And 2025 on the temporary carpet loop I set up for the grandsons.
And totally forgot my 2055, which was sitting in the display case...
Sorry, Baby.
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