I got a 1666E pre-war steam fraight set for Christmas. When I first put it on the track it will cycle from foward to neutral to reverse like it should, but when I run it for a few minutes in forward, the E-unit gets stuck in forward. Is the heat from the motor hampering the operation of the E-unit? This is my first classic lionel piece and any help would be apreciated. Thanks
My first guess is the e-unit needs a cleaning. The heat from the motor should have nothing to do with the e-unit cycling. After you have run the engine for awhile, shut off power and listen for a “tink” sound. If you don’t hear one, tap the top of the engine, and listen for the same sound. This would indicate the plunger is sticking, which is what I’m guessing is happening.
To clean the e-unit, you have to remove the engine shell. I use alcohol and cotton swabs, but some people use tuner cleaner. I don’t know for sure what’s in tuner cleaner, so I stay away from it. Anyway, one screw will remove the e-unit from the motor, and give it a good cleaning. With any luck that should fix the problem without disassembling the e-unit.
Another thought, before doing the above, make sure the e-unit lever is making positive contact, and not vibrating to the off position while it’s running. Sorry just thought of that. Keep posting your results, and I’m sure someone here can help you get it going again.
Well, its more likely the heat build up from the E unit coil. You my have some luck cleaning the plunger and tube with tuner cleaner and cleaning the drum and fingers. Make sure the drum cycles easily when you manually move the plunger up and down. Frankly, after 60+ years, you get a wide variety of behaviors from the E units. I haven’t seen to many that couldn’t e fixed.
Good luck,
I think I fixed it. I used Alcohol and cotton swab to clean the shaft that the fingers rest on. Now I hear a loud buzz from the E-unit when I run it now, I’m shure thats a good sign. Thank you very much. I cycled the engine through fowards neutral and reverse several times until the motor was warm to the touch, and the E-unit still worked properly.[swg]