I recently cleaned up my dad’s 1947 Lionel 671 engine and miraculously got it to function again - kind of. I bought a Lionel CW-40 transformer and set up my newly cleaned O gauge track. The engine is getting power because the light comes on and it will start moving, but it stops once it leaves the one piece of track that the power is attached to…so it’s a very short ride. Is my transformer too weak? Will a CW-80 work with the old postwar Lionel 671s? If not, what is a relatively inexpensive transformer that I should purchase? This is a once a year Christmas set-up so I don’t want to drop too much cash, but my 2 year old loves the train!
Sounds like poor electrical contact between the track sections. If it moves well on the section with the lock-on but stops as soon as it gets off of it that would be my best guess. The CW-40 may be a little weak but as long as you dont load it up with a ton of cars or lighted passenger cars it should be ok. You could try ading another lock-on to the other side of the loop. Your best bet would be to pick up a new loop of track. If you decide agenst that clean the track pins and the holes they go into better. Make sure the track pins fit tight in the track. You can pinch the track (just below the pin )tight around the pins with a pair of needle nose plires. Hope that helps. Any more ? just ask some one will be sure to answer.
Try laying the engine on its side and put power to the pick-up and common to the body. If it runs ok its a track problem, if not its the engine. With being used infrequently the grease, and oils, may have gummed up and it needs a good cleaning and re-lube.