Hello to all and a Lionel 1666 question

Classic Toy Trains Forum
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Hello from a newbie here, great board. Have just spent over an hour perusing posts. Lots of info to soak up. My question is about the wheels on this loco. I have one I picked up at an estate auction 3 or 4 years ago, and just got it running again. Seems like a real good runner. However, I noticed when it is on the tracks, it pivots around the center drive wheel on the gear side of the motor. Kinda like the wheels in the front and back on this side are a smaller diameter than the center wheel. Is this how it is supposed to be? Thanks in advance for any and all help.

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This sort of thing happened to the Korean-War 2026. Lionel enlarged the middle drivers slightly in an apparent attempt to improve the Magnetraction, then had to leave out the magnets because of the war. However, I have never heard of this odd idea’s being used on any other locomotive, and certainly not on one side only. I wonder whether that wheel was replaced with one meant for another locomotive. Are the wheels clean? A surprising amount of gunk can build up on them.

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Hello Fireman! The Center Wheels should be of a smaller diameter than the front or rear wheels. The other possibilty is that the center geared wheel is mounted somewhat off-center causing your dilemma? Whoever owned this 1666 before you bought it either worked on it himself or had someone else work on it. Can you post a photo of it so we can take a look & try to figure out a solution here? Take Care.

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Keith,

Hows that old clunker of mine coming along? Just curious.

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Hi Don- It is in the Painting process as Fred will apply one coat & wipe it down(polish) then apply another coat & repeat. Should be ready soon. You’ll be happy with it. Take Care.

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Thanks Keith !!!

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I have too many 1666’s, and none of the possess the " rocking " pattern you described. I have a couple that have minor problems but could be made to run I’m sure for not much money if you want them for parts. Jake

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Thanks for the info all. Looking at it again last night it appears that it has the correct wheels, but that the nickel portion has either come off or was removed. Time to find a new set of wheels. Thanks again. Sully

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The 1946 version was the ONLY ones that had the “Nickel Rim” drivers. Pre-war (1938-1941) did not. Did some one want to make it “look” pre-war? Pre-war wheels should be easy to find.

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Thanks for the input. Don’t know a thing about the history of this locomotive. Bought it at an estate auction 3 or 4 years ago. Was not running had had several missing pieces. Finally got it running again last weekend. Really like how it performs. Have no idea which wheels are the originals, but would like to replace the 2 wheels with nickel silver. Sully

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acording to the CTT Feb 200 224E story , the 1938 Gunmetal version of the 1666 is the only year that DIDN"T have the nickel rims on the drivers.

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I believe that the 1666 is the same locomotive as the 224, which has the same wheels as the early 675 or 2025, that is, 226E-63 through 66. I have examined these wheels on a derelict that I have. They are typical prewar or early postwar wheels, cast zinc rather than sintered iron, with steel tires, presumably nickel plated.

If you think you know how to put them on, I would be happy to send you these wheels. (They are not close to pristine.) I recommend replacing all six as a set, to be sure of getting the quartering errors the same on all the axles.

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Thanks Bob. Will email you off board. Dave

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Hi…The only 1666 that did not have the nickle rim drivers is the early 1666E