Lionel 2032 post war diesel engine

[Anonymous]

I am having trouble getting traction on my Lionel 2032 diesel. It will only pull a few cars before the traction is lost. It does have magnetaction. I know this is an ALCO but I do not know how many cars it should be able to pull. Any and all suggestions.info will be greatly appreciated.

[trigtrax]

First degrease the wheels, sometimes a film of oil will build up. Also the type track you use will effect the magnetraction. These things run best on tubular as the metal channels the magnetic flux. Also store this engine on tubular track when not in use.

The next question should be the friction on the cars your trying to pull, again degrease and very lightly lubricate wheels at the axles A well maintained wheel will spin freely.

[okiechoochoo]

I run a 2023 a lot which is the same engine different road name. I always pull 10-11 postwar cars, 6464, tanks and long quad hoppers. I have a very slight incline and it runs just fine. This includes pulling the dummy A unit also. Don't know how many you call a few but I have no trouble with that load. At times I also have a operating cattle car and a 3662 operating milk car in the consist. They are quite heavy. I keep everything clean and lubed and rolling as free as possible.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the response. I have already degreased and cleaned the wheels and track.
I am running on new Lionel fastrack.
Does anyone know how many cars this engine should be able to pull?

[philo426]

Idon't think magnatraction will work on fastrack,as the alloys differ from regular tubulartrack.You may find the engine pulls better if you add a little weight.

[okiechoochoo]

I failed to mention that I run on postwar super O track which reportedly has the strongest effect with magnetraction but I don't know that for sure.

[Jumijo]

I have a few new magnatraction locomotives, and they stick incredibly well to FasTrack. I don't think the track is the problem.

Jim

[3railguy]

Lionel Fastrack works with magnetraction. It has less mass maybe than standard O gauge tubular track so the magnetic attraction may not be as strong. Like others say, the wheels may need a good cleaning. Try scrubbing them with mineral spirits and a tooth brush.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the info. I am having trouble pulling 5-6 cars plus the dummy. I will try cleaning the wheels again.

[Jumijo]

Has your 2032 been tuned up recently. It might just need a good cleaning and lube. Sure wouldn't hurt. Did the locomotive always perform like this, or is this something new? Some of those old post war locos didn't pull all that good.

Jim

[ben10ben]

What kind of cars are you trying to pull? My 2023s will only pull seven or eight postwar cars, but will pull a good many more modern O27 type cars.

If you're trying to pull postwar cars, you may need to oil the wheels on all of them. An oiled postwar car rolls about three times more easily than an unoiled one.

[lionelsoni]

I put a motor in my 2023's dummy unit to be able to pull a longer train. They're not the best pullers on three rails.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by bigvito

I am having trouble getting traction on my Lionel 2032 diesel. It will only pull a few cars before the traction is lost. It does have magnetaction. I know this is an ALCO but I do not know how many cars it should be able to pull. Any and all suggestions.info will be greatly appreciated.

When these train sets first came out on the market in 1950s the locomotives were pulling about 5 cars and a dummy locomotive, back than they were not designed to haul 10 to 15 cars. If your having trouble with 6 cars you may want to look at the armature and see if if it needs cleaning also replace the brushes with new ones. If you dont have a copy of Greenbergs Repair and Operating manual for Lionel Trains 1945-1969 I highly recomend it for post war Lionel Owners it has all the part numbers for ordering parts and a very good source for parts is Olson Toy Trains, their on the web.

[Anonymous]

My experience with the 1950 Lionel 2023 UP w/ magnatraction began with a similar problem; seeming lack of pulling power with postwar cars. All the suggestions so far are excellent maintenance points, and I have followed them.

One more item was significant to address, and it is directly related to magnatraction. Since these are +50 year old items, over time the magnet acted upon the drive wheel, causing it to eventually rub and cause great drag on the truck casting. I installed a brass washer as a bearing between the wheel and the casting, added lubrication, and the pulling power was increased significantly in all respects. In addition, running the dummy first is also a suggested technique.

[lionelsoni]

I'll second Colteb's points. The motor is in the front of the powered unit; so running with that end forward transfers weight off the powered truck in proportion to the drawbar force, whereas putting it at the back increases the weight on the truck. Running this way also eliminates any possibility of the cars' derailing the dummy on curves.

You can install washers without pulling the wheels. Cut a tapered slot in the washer just a little narrower at the inside end than the axle diameter, so that you can force it onto the axle but it won't fall off. I'm not sure it's necessary to use brass. A steel washer will be right next to the wheel anyway and virtually form a part of it for magnetic purposes.

[dwiemer]

Another advantage to having the dummy engine first is that you can have the sound (if yours is in the dummy) up front so when you come out of a tunnel or any other enclosed area, the sound really blasts forward.
Dennis

[lionelsoni]

Nothing in the dummy, I think.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for all of the input. I don't think I have a motor problem. The wheels put out plenty of torque. They will not grab, just spin. I will try all of the suggestions.

[Windhund42]

I saw this discussion after searching for information on the 2032 and thought I would ask a question or two.  I recently inherited a 2032 that has been out of commission since at least 1979 (the date of the newspaper it was wrapped in).  I have been researching the hisotry of this engine and want to be sure I take care of it properly before running it again.

I plan to take it to a locak train shop for a bench test and evaluation of its condition but in the meantime I trying to find out as much as I can about how to maintain it.  I plan to order the Labelle 1001 kit with the three different lburicants very soon.  Specifically, I can't find any video or pictures on how to lube the electric moter.  Does it have to bee removed from the engine to do this or not?  I have found reprints of the original Lionel manual but the manual is not very distinct and I do have a sight impariment

Any links or step by step info on the electric motor lubrication would be much appreciated, thanks

A

[Windhund42]

I just found a Labelle video on Youtube that explains how to lube the elctric motor and also saw a copy of the original instructions that came with the engine that stated that two screws hold the body in place that have to be removed in order to access the electric motor.