Gentlemen, I am putting together my layout for my Christmas tree, and have a strange problem with my 1933 400e (my grandfather's train). The loco will only run in reverse. The loco has an automatic reverse mechanism which has never been a problem before. I have tried two different transformers. Loco runs in reverse just beautifully, but I cannot get it to run forward. Can you suggest anything? Is there a way to disengage the automatic reverse feature so I can just run forwards? Thanks!
It has been too long for me. I cannot recall the e-unit configuration. Is there a lever on it? I am vaguely thinking there is one position that locked it in the same direction of travel and the other position allowed it to change directions. Anyhow, it may be worth looking. After all these years, if nothing else, it could simply be stiffened up enough to be stuck.
Ah, the E unit. Throw the lever and try interrupting the power again. If that fixes it, great. If not, you may have to disassemble it and manually roll the roller in the E-unit, or with very very tiny drops of oil lube only the pins on each end. The E-unit is a small Bakelite wheel in a frame with metal bands on it and tabs that rub on the metal bands. It has tabs on the wheel like a water wheel would have, and a solenoid attached with a hook on the end. Most of the locomotive's wiring runs to it. Once you get it in forward, you'll probably want to throw that lever again. On most of the old ones, the lever throws across and is on top of the smokebox. On some, they're underneath. Sometimes throwing the lever puts it in neutral, so if it then stops and refuses to go try again. But if you can get the lever thrown and freeze it in forward motion, then the advantage is spotty connections from old track or connectors won't make it continually stop on you--the lights will just blink and it'll keep on. Leave the E-unit engaged and run it on spotty track and it might even throw itself into reverse at speed, which often ends in a derailment. Let us know if that helps! Heck, post pics!
I've seen the contact pin on the E unit stick, so it won't change direction. If that's the case, a very fine wire brush will burnish the contacts. Don't use sandpaper or a file, they are too rough and will cause the contacts to arc and either burn together or not get contact at all.
