Hello fellas, I am trying to get the o scale engine to work. I cleaned the track and wheels. the leads from transformer to track give off lots of spark. Can it be that the engine is fried! Maybe I should bring it to the hobby shop and let them check it out?? Anu suggections, PLEASE. Cheers
Is it three rail and does the sparking only happen when the engine is on the tracks? Who made the engine? If the engine isn't already fried, it may get that way with the sparking. --Greg
Hi Greg. Yes it is a 3 rail. Lionel Lines 1950s. I caused the sparking by touching the wires to the track in checking if the transformer is an fact sending current to the track.There is a small clip onto which the two wires attach. (to the track )I did this without the engine on the track. My goal was to get this running so my two nephews can get to see and operate, and maybe catch the BUG!
Hi Joseph, It sounds like you have a short. The hot wire goes to the center rail and the ground wire to the outside rails. If you used a track lock on for the wires check and see if there is a possibility of a short there. The old track should have a fiber insulator on each tie that holds the center rail. They wrap around the bottom of the rail and on top of the base. If one of those is torn or missing part or all of it, it will short out the track. I used to make replacements out of cereal box card board. It was cheap and a quick fix. If you find one needs replacing, gently spread the tie tabs holding the rail enough to slide out the offending insulator and slide the new one on. Greg Elems
lionel O scale Hi Greg, I posted 3 photos in my album- 009 007 and 001 to show you more detail. It apears that the wires are connected to the inner and outside tracks through the CTC hookup.Maybe these will help. Thanks and Cheers.
Hi Joseph, It looks to me that you are using the lock on for one of Lionel's signals. The lock on should clip onto the middle rail and one of the outside rails. Look and see if there isn't another lock on included with the track. I don't recall the CTC printing on my power lock ons. If you set up some track and use alligator clips with one to the middle and one to outside rail it shouldn't spark and your engine should run ok. That engine you have looks like it's in good shape. They are rugged and can take some punishment. Hope that helps. Greg
IT WORKS !! Well Greg, I decided to take the engine apart, and in doing so, found a piece of popcorn wrap used to ship the train to me, I cleaned it as much as I dare and took a few hrs to put it back together. It was lucky I took pics when I stripped it! I then tried again on a small oval ( no accessories ) and VOILA!! power fwd and rev. I'll finish cleaning and set up little by little. I know two little nephews who will be as excited as I am.Thanks for your help Greg. Cheers all.:w20z6q:
Excellent Joseph, always glad to hear about those old Lionel classic's getting to preform for another generation. Greg
lionel O scale repair Thanks for the feedback guys, much appreciated. I love to fix old things and this has given me a lot of pleasure. BUT!!! now I have a Question. The engine has a truck front 2 and rear 4 wheels. On each is a spring loaded white metal pin in the center. Is there a reason ie, electrical conductivity, I don't know? The engine stopped running and I noticed that the cow catcher was rubbing on the center track.I put a piece of good old duck tape between the track and cow catcher and it really took off running. I put a couple of photos in my gallery of the truck, the back one anyway.I think I can bend the front truck so as to make it run higher and off the track. I was just going to put it away and get back to my ho but I hate putting something away when not in working order. Thanks and Cheers.
The front and rear truck of your steamer should not have anything to do with electrical pickup. Nor should they effect the attitude of the engine. Without them, that Lionel steamer should sit level on your tracks. If I remember correctly, and it's been many years now, the springs you'd noted, should simply provide a little down force for the trucks. To minimize chances of them derailing. Hope this helps a little.... Boxcab E50
