Can't get it to run

[Anonymous]

I have a Lionel 027, and I just tried to hook it up. When I give it some power, the light comes on, and the engine produces a buzzing sound, but there is no motion. The tracks are old, the whole thing's been sitting in some box for many years I guess, so the tracks aren't shiny.
I tried placing the engine at several different points along the tracks on the smallest, most simple layout I could throw together, and always the same, little light (or alot of light at times,) the buzz, but no motion.

Any ideas?

[Dave Farquhar]

Hi Chuckle,

Sounds like the e-unit is stuck, which isn't a repair for the timid. But here's something to try, to eliminate track as the problem.

Take the loco off the track. Disconnect the wires from the track. Flip the loco over. Attach one wire to one of the pickup rollers. Attach the other to one of the free-rolling wheels toward the front or back of the loco. Just kind of twist the wire and find a place that it'll stick into without holding. Then apply power from the transformer. Hit the direction button a couple of times if all it wants to do is buzz. You can also play with the position of the lever up top.

If you get it rolling, chances are the problem is the track. But if it won't run even when connected directly to the transformer, the problem is likely a stuck e-unit. Some of the wizards here will probably have some e-unit tips for you.

If the problem is the track, get a green scouring pad from the kitchen (don't use steel wool and don't use sandpaper) and any household cleaner and use that to clean the track. A good test to see if the track is clean enough is to take a paper towel with some glass cleaner on it and rub it on the track. If the paper towel comes off reasonably clean, then the track is too.

[Anonymous]

Jeez, thanks Dave. I guess that it was just that simple. Wheels are turning now. Suppose I'll put a steel bru***o those tracks and try to clean them up a bit.
Thanks again!

[Anonymous]

If it has been sitting for a while, there may be corrosion that is preventing the wheels from turning. See if you can turn the drive wheels by hand. Another possibility is that the silver rods that go to the drive wheels could be jammed, so don't force it very hard when you try to turn it by hand. I am assuming we are talking about a steamer here. What is the number on the side of the engine?

[lionelsoni]

Don't use the steel brush. Use a Scotch-Brite pad, as Dave said. You don't want to get bits of steel into the locomotive; and you don't want to remove the tin plating from the track.