Lionel Crafts & Hobbies - Answered Questions & Fixed Issues

I have used 18ga lamp wire but you can use wire as thin as telephone wire. My rule of thumb is to use thicker wire (lower gauge number) the more motors on the train you are running. 20 or 22ga is generally used by most.

It should not be too difficult to replace the entire rod assembly including the valve rod eccentric rod and eccentric crank. THe crankpin in the drive wheel holds the eccentric crank to the wheel at the top there should be another screw freeing the valve rod and crank in one piece. two screws and 10 minutes you should be done. I am basing this on other Lionel locomotives including the Southern Crescent 8702, 736 and 1656

Recent Lionel transformers are notorious for their issues. Put an old fashioned reverse switch into the circuit, an old Lionel 88 will do the wire to terminal 1 of the lockon or the wire tothe center rail needs to be cut and attached to the 2 terminals of the 88 reverse switch. Note this is ancient technology from the 30s to 50s

http://www.manualsonline.com/ https://www.manualslib.com/

From a top view there is a dot near a pin. That pin is #1 and numbering proceeds counterclockwise from 1 to 8. Pin 1 is the ground. You can see the article on Wikipedia for other info, if needed

The Lionel postwar 190watt transformer is an excellent power supply for trains. If one or more of the binding posts are loose ("U,A,B,C,D" Terminals") you will need to replace the binding post, use a T-159 replacement Binding Post. The original posts are soldered and crimped on. The T-159 replacement binding post is bolted on. UNPLUG THE TRANSFORMER Carefully pull/pry up the handles and remove them remove the 4 Philips screws on the top, lift off the case top, the binding posts stay with the body of the KW. Remove the loose bindings post one at a time as needed. Be sure to get any wire reattached. Reverse the procedure to reassemble.

indicates a dead short to ground in the smoke unit that is overloading the transformer replace/repair the smoke unit

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Lionel-Drive-Belts-2-NEW-3540-3512-3545-Radar-Car-Fire-Car-TV-Car-W-Insts/122742995541?hash=item1c940d7a55:g:xhMAAOSwEzxYXAQs

Looking at auction pictures, I'm going to say that odds are the fuse is located in the main unit. You can pick up those tamper proof screwdrivers at Harbor Freight pretty cheap. Please make sure that you've properly discharged the unit before attempting any repairs.

Check the door making sure it is closing properly

You've done the right thing by talking with Lionel. Their techs should be able to guide you trough trouble shooting as it seems that you have some knowledge of electronics.

I think you hit the nail on the head with your own question. "filling the smoke stack with oil". Turn the unit upside down and drain COMPLETELY all oil in the smokestack. Generally only a couple of drops are needed. Those drops will smoke until they quit. A couple of drop should smoke at least 10 minutes or more.

You can't. These transformers aren't user serviceable. You can thank the Federal Government for that. If you can find the special tool to remove the case, you'll be able to open the transformer. For service, contact Lionel customer service or take the transformer to a Lionel Service Center.

Go to Lionel.com and select customer service or contact us on their web site.

make sure track is not in a "bind" as this will make it difficult to fit track into holders (and they do fit tight) also not all plastics that are new have been "deflashed" this is sometimes a tiny bit of excess plastic that OOzes out in the wrong place of a casting , a tiny x-acto blade fixes that in seconds

ohh no that id not try at all , one can first use a power converter that one can buy off many online sources to convert 220 volt down to 110 volt then to transformer this will be safe 4 unit, the 50HZ to 60 Hz doesn't matter to much as well unless one plans on using the lionel sound generator , then its not gonna sound to spry as it will be a bit slower !!

??? not sure why a evolution would have a smoke unit in it , but anyways its possible that trains were shipped with only a small amount of smoke fluid in them (makes shipping less messy) a bottle of smoke fluid and a few drops of this wonderful stuff is all you should need to get your engine smoking again

electric trains that sit for a few years require cleaning (yeah I know how'd it get dirty in the box ) but its not the same kind of dirt u/I see its a type of oxidation called corrosion , and it affects the metal parts of set , IE: tracks , wire connectors, engine power pick-ups on bottom of engine they ALL get this light powdery stuff on them this "stuff" will not pass power over to engine and it will not run , this powder can be easy removed with a light rub of 3M scotchbright pad , I don't recommend using steel wool , but I have in a pinch before and 4 sure don't use brillo as this has soap in it (worse than powder)

Lionel uses insulated wheels on there power pickup trucks , one side will have insulation bands and one will not , insulated bands need to be all same side on same truck , lead end is different than tail end this is how it picks up power from tracks , sometimes trucks axles get popped out in playing and maybe don't get popped back in the same way , also its possible for insulating bands to get holes in them from use , a dot or two of black latex paint fixes these up (don't paint entire wheel)

if by real you ,mean a steam engine , as on real modern trains they don't stand ,they sit and they arnt in the back either , anyways on Baldwin 700's (from memory?) there was two low posts with large round knobs on top near operators cabin , these were Hip posts for coal stoker to lean on to support themselves as engine moved along but still allowed them to use there arms to stoke coal freely