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Lionel 685

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  • Member since
    July 2003
  • 1,786 posts
Posted by cwburfle on Tuesday, December 29, 2015 11:47 AM

I tighened e-unit levers by bending the little leg that actually contacts the terminal for many years. It certainly works. I do think sliding a horseshoe washer in the stack somewhere is a neater solution. If you ever have to do a complete rebuild of the e-unit, the washer can be removed and the rest of the e-unit parts will be reuseable.

If you bend the lever, and decide to rebuild the e-unit, most styles of replacement levers are available

  • Member since
    October 2015
  • 114 posts
Posted by Toy Trains FTW on Tuesday, December 29, 2015 4:49 PM

Okay Thanks for the info!

  • Member since
    August 2010
  • From: Henrico, VA
  • 8,955 posts
Posted by Firelock76 on Tuesday, December 29, 2015 4:56 PM

T-T-FTW, let me recommend a great DVD to you, TM Books and Videos "Maintenance and Repair Guide for Lionel Electric Trains and Accessories."

It's got just about everything in it you need to know to keep vintage Lionels alive. Quite entertaining and easy to follow.  It's helped me a lot.

If you can't find it a your local train shop see if they can order it for you, or you can order direct at www.tmbv.com.  Well worth the price.

Also, I'd strongly suggest you get a copy of "Greenberg's Repair and Operating Manual for Lionel Trains", published by Kalmbach. For the parts breakdowns and nomenclature it's priceless.

  • Member since
    October 2015
  • 114 posts
Posted by Toy Trains FTW on Tuesday, December 29, 2015 5:22 PM

Thank you for the recommendation!! I happen to have gotten that DVD this past Christmas but I have yet to get the manual. hopefully i can get it soon!

  • Member since
    October 2015
  • 114 posts
Posted by Toy Trains FTW on Tuesday, March 15, 2016 5:56 PM

Hello everyone,

Sorry for the inactiveness. I recently came up on a question about the 685 and operating track section.  I was running my 685 and i decided to back it onto a siding with the operation track section (which I have never done before) and the engine started to do a rapid jerking motion back and forth like the E-unit thing while it was over the section and the track was hooked up right. So the question is what is everyones opinion or idea of what is happening? Thanks in advance. 

P.S. the whistle started to blow too

  • Member since
    August 2010
  • From: Henrico, VA
  • 8,955 posts
Posted by Firelock76 on Tuesday, March 15, 2016 6:55 PM

If the engine runs fine under most circumstances but goes koo-koo when it passes over that operating track section I'd suspect the track section's to blame, but I'm just guessing here.  I run my trains on plain closed loops with no accessories hooked up, I just prefer it that way.

  • Member since
    October 2015
  • 114 posts
Posted by Toy Trains FTW on Tuesday, March 15, 2016 7:35 PM

Firelock76

If the engine runs fine under most circumstances but goes koo-koo when it passes over that operating track section I'd suspect the track section's to blame, but I'm just guessing here.  I run my trains on plain closed loops with no accessories hooked up, I just prefer it that way.

 

Yes it runs fine all the time but got weird right there. I dont know why most likely the track section. ThxSmile

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