Lionel EP-5 MILW Rd 8558

Classic Toy Trains Forum
1

I recently bought an Lionel EP-5 #8558. It runs well, but after about 3 minutes of continuous running at 3/4 throttle, it starts slowing down. Going to full throttle doesn’t help. Seems like the motor is just spinning. After being off for a while it runs fine again for 3 minutes. Is this typical of this engine?

Using a vintage LW transformer (120W), a couple of lighted cars buit that’s it.

2

It’s either the nylon spur gear or the worm wheel(gear) on the worm shaft that is slipping/stripped and not meeting its interference fit on the shaft splines. You can use replacement nylon gears or the postwar alloy gear equivalents - these motor trucks were built just like the postwar versions excepting the MagneTraction feature.