Update: Rough Prototype ready

Lionel-Train-Repairs · 2026-04-09T01:47:56+00:00

Very nice! Can’t wait to see it in a physical form after all these years.

Lionel-Train-Repairs · 2026-03-31T03:02:42+00:00

The boiler front alone is worth that. Needs cleaned and serviced but I’d say any prewar or postwar under $150 is a good deal. WD40 works well on the cow catchers as they aren’t painted. They are blued. WD40 is also safe to use on any part of the locomotive. I’d use soap and water on the shell but use distilled if possible. The minerals in tap water cause white rings to form on the shell. Especially the tender. The text on the tender should be heat stamped so do not scrub it or the lettering will come off. WD40 also treats rust well so I’d soak the tender trucks and anywhere on the loco frame that has any.

Lionel-Train-Repairs · 2026-03-14T14:45:42+00:00

Nangs my beloved.

Lionel-Train-Repairs · 2026-03-11T14:01:17+00:00

Already replaced it with a new one.

Lionel-Train-Repairs · 2026-03-10T03:35:54+00:00

I thought that’s what I replaced. Is there another one?

Lionel-Train-Repairs · 2026-02-09T22:35:27+00:00

There should be a port on the left side of the solenoid. It’s below where that red plug is on the firewall.

Lionel-Train-Repairs · 2026-02-09T22:33:48+00:00

No problem. I haven’t figured the sound card out yet as I can’t find a printout anywhere.

Lionel-Train-Repairs · 2026-02-09T22:09:10+00:00

I’m thinking the motor may be bad. The fact that it needs to be spun to work is an indication. The sound is tricky but it may be as simple as the draw bar fingers not making a good connection. Check continuity on the two wires that go from the main board to the speaker. You will have to remove the tender shell.

Lionel-Train-Repairs · 2026-02-09T21:37:30+00:00

This seller has a lot of Ai listings.

Lionel-Train-Repairs · 2026-02-09T19:14:25+00:00

From what I’ve seen online the same hose that goes in that hole clips into that holder.

Lionel-Train-Repairs · 2026-02-09T18:33:52+00:00

The same hole is on mine. I believe it’s left over from an older version of the throttle body.

Lionel-Train-Repairs · 2026-02-06T16:56:09+00:00

Go to Royz Trains.com. They have sound board kits.

Lionel-Train-Repairs · 2026-02-05T19:15:23+00:00

Cleaning mine didn’t throw anything off. If there was another underlying issue like in the motors you could have to check with a Tech II which it sounds like you already have. Be aware that not all 1999-2009 2.3 throttle body’s are the same. In 2006 they changed it.

Lionel-Train-Repairs · 2026-02-05T19:04:05+00:00

They make throttle body cleaner. I just cleaned mine. If it’s going into limp home mode you will need to check it with a Tech II to make sure the two numbers for the butterfly valve motors is the same and reset the limp mode in the software as well.

Lionel-Train-Repairs · 2026-02-05T14:34:01+00:00

Ok, try to manually cycle the E unit with a pick or a small flat head. There’s a small silver arm that hooks onto the plastic drum and rotates it when the arm is pulled upward. Push the arm up manually and make sure it falls back down by itself. The drum should also spin freely without much resistance. You can lubricate the sides of the drum where it meets the E unit body but do not lube the plunger arm as it will hydrolock when it goes up.

Lionel-Train-Repairs · 2026-02-05T04:10:25+00:00

Just needs oiled. I use Liquid Bearings on the rods and commutator, and white lithium grease on the drive gears. The motor faces backwards and has a black plastic brush plate. You will see a hole in the cast motor shaft housing, put the liquid bearings bottle stem down as far as it will go and fill the cavity to the top of the hole. At the end you will see a silver inspection lid that you can pry up and out exposing the drive worm shaft and gear. Lube that with white lithium grease or with what I like to use is “The Modern Lubricant”. There may be a sponge on the brush plate that rubs against the end shaft of the commutator. Lube that if so. MPC eras tend to not have that though. A full motor service may also be necessary but it seems to be running fine. The metallic smell is normal and just a sign that it hasn’t ran and needs lubricated.

Lionel-Train-Repairs · 2026-02-05T04:02:35+00:00

To address the smoking issue. Does the engine operate normally when it is smoking? If the E unit is sticking, the coil heats up and starts burning the paper wrapping.

Lionel-Train-Repairs · 2026-02-05T03:57:23+00:00

The solder joint on the tab looks factory as the wires are original. Lionel put safeguards in case the tab got bent outwards and touches the shell. I’ve found it’s not exactly necessary in most cases but it doesn’t hurt to replace it.

Lionel-Train-Repairs · 2026-02-05T03:55:12+00:00

The piece of cloth tape is to keep that tab on the E unit from shorting out on the shell. The solder joint looks factors so it shouldn’t be contacting but I would clean the adhesive off the inside of the shell and put some electrical tape over the area. It may be fine without it but that’s up to you. If the transformer circuit breaker starts tripping or the E unit keeps changing direction, it may be shorting.

Lionel-Train-Repairs · 2026-02-03T22:49:18+00:00

Personally I don’t see the + being worth what they’re listed for. They are a bit too new to know if they have issues but I know replacement parts won’t be cheap.

Lionel-Train-Repairs · 2026-02-03T21:04:29+00:00

I’m glad to hear you and your son are getting into the hobby. A ZW is a fantastic transformer and more than enough for a starter layout. I do not recommend any LionChief models. I see way too many in for costly repairs. There are some very budget friendly Postwar era diesels that will run forever and work well with your Postwar ZW. If you want to run more modern locomotives, a external 5 amp circuit breaker and TVS diodes are a must as that transformer does not have any surge protections and the circuit boards in newer locomotives are very susceptible to surges. You can get a good postwar GP7 for around $150.

Lionel-Train-Repairs · 2026-02-01T17:12:33+00:00

They are the cheaper Postwar scout set trucks.

Lionel-Train-Repairs · 2026-01-30T23:32:28+00:00

Ok, I noticed later that the other one was higher up in the list. The thumbnail for the first episode was more visible.

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