LIONEL 2353 REPAIR PROBLEM????

[trainguy2]

I''m trying to fix a short in the powered "A" unit of an ABA set that I bought last month. This is the 2 motor unit { without the horn, horn is in dummy "A' unit}. I have totally disassembled the unit and checked each part seperatly. The front truck has the short. The wire to the pickup collect was broken so i reattached it. When I reassembled the truck it still shorts out. My question is: Is there supposed to be some sort of insulation material that goes under the collector assembly that could be missing ?????? HELP THANKS

[msacco]

You know I just had my 2354 NYC apart the other day and I didn't notice any insulating material underneath the roller assembly. And I did disconnect the assembly to do a good cleaning.
I do know however, that there are two insulating washers that fit inside the screw holes on the pickup assembly. If these are mising, this could be the source of your short.
Greenberg's postwar guide has a nice exploded view of all the parts but unfortunately I can't get to it at this time. I will have access to it late tonite.

Mike S.

[trainguy2]

Thanks Mike,,,,,,,,, I know there has to be something missing ... that could be it there is no washers there on mine

[1688torpedo]

Hello Trainguy! If your engine is missing a insulating washer; Then this would be the cause of your shorts. Give the Train Tender a try in Pittsford,NY & they should have the exact washer you need. Just type in their name on your computer address bar & you'll access their website. Take Care.

[Chris F]

Olsen's Toy Trains has a library of pages from Lionel's service manual:
http://pictures.olsenstoy.com/library.htm

The site is down this evening, but I expect it will be up tomorrow.

Mike is right about the insulating washer (2333-42); there's also an insulating spacer (671-112). IIRC, the washer is a thin white or clear plastic, while the spacer is smaller in diameter, thicker, and made from black plastic. Both go over the screw that holds the collector assembly to the bottom of the truck.

There's also another insulator (2333-34), a thin black plastic/fiber rectangle with a square opening. It fits between the collector and the truck.

[wrmcclellan]

The Greenburg book shows there is a large collector insulating washer between the P/U roller assembly and the frame. There should also be an insulating bushing and insulating washer on the screw that holds the P/U roller assembly to the truck frame.

I tried to get you a link to the repair pages at Olsen's Toy Trains, but the link appears down right now.

Go here and click on LIBRARY and drill down to the PW 2333/2353 drawings.

http://pictures.olsenstoy.com/

Regards,
Roy

[trainguy2]

Just want to say THANKS to all the responses.......i knew something had to be missing , and thanks to your help i've got a direction to go in ..............