Toy train operating and collecting

I have a post war 2055 and a post war 2018 that the e unit is VERY touchy on. Is there a way to bypass the e unit and set to constantly run in the forward direction?

Yes, get it going in  the desired direction, then pull the little lever at the top of the boiler to the opposite side. After that, the loco will only run in that direction.

George

my problem is the lever is VERY loose and make little contact. even after setting it will slip out. what I want to do is bypass it completely so I can use it under the christmas tree.

 If you're handy with the right tools (screwdriver, small hammer and punch), and know your way around an e-unit, you may be able to re-stake the rivet that has loosened on your e-unit lock out lever, thereby retaining it's functionality. Do some on-line reading about e-unit repair, wiring diagrams and illustrations to help. Good luck.

Some folks side a horseshoe washer behind the spring washer or between the contact plate and e-unit body to tighen things up.

Try wedging some cardboard between the dimple on the business end of the lever and the fixed contact on the insulating board.

The first question is, in which direction is it going now.  If it is going forward then move the lever to the side, secure it and it will stay going forward.  The lever is“L” shaped and functions as an on/off switch for the e-unit which it is attached to the e-unit with a rivet   If it is not moving now, it is in neutral.  Put the engine on powered track, or attach wire to the pickup roller and a ground, and add a small amount of power to it.  Now move the lever from side to side putting slight forward pressure on it so that it will engage the contact on the e-unit.  The engine should start to move, forward or reverse.  If it is the direction you want, then move the lever to the other side and secure it.  Otherwise it may bounce around and accidently make contact and engage the e-unit.  If it is going in reverse keep moving the lever to cycle the engine through neutral to forward.  You do not need to take the engine apart to do this.

 The problems I have had with the switch lever on the E units is that the insulating board that mounts the switch lever bends slightly over time so that the switch lever does not make good contact with the rivet.  That seems to be the case here.  What I do is remove the motor from the shell and then try to turn the lever about 90 degrees and then bend the end that contacts the rivet slightly so it makes a good contact again.  This is probably a 30 year fix.  You won't have to do it again for a long time.  Alternatively, you could build a little solder up on the rivit to make it taller.  Try to leave a dimple in the center of the solder so the lever won't move off the rivet.  You could make the dimple with a drill bit or Dremel tool. 

Bending the end of the lever is my usual fix also.  But he was looking only for a way to keep the e-unit off, not to get it working fully again.  For that, I think jamming a bit of cardboard between the lever and the rivet is easiest.