Lionel 224 steam engine, questions on motor and tender

[Blk6999]

Thank you for the part numbers. Will order a few extra fingers for spare parts.

https://trainrepairparts.com/shop/product/3549/e-unit-spreader-tool The spreader tool is st 303.
There is another tool that holds the e unit and comes with a spreader. That cost is the price of two e units.

These parts are listed at the Train Tender. You can search online for other part suppliers.

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Thank you for the part numbers. Will order a couple extra fingers for spare parts.

 

[Blk6999]

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Glad you found your problem. Excellent E-unit repair video by Grampy's Lionel Trains. I like his videos, they're generally straight and to the point.

In lieu of the pry bar shown in the video, I use a Mini 4" End Cutter-Nipper, which you should be able to find anywhere that sells tools, including possibly Hobby Lobby or Michael's, who may carry these smaller, plier-type tools in their bead crafting aisles.
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Simply slip the closed end of the nipper between the E-unit plates and gently apply pressure with the handles to open the nipper. It's far easier to control the nippers than needle nose pliers, and virtually eliminates the chance of damaging the E-unit side plates and components.

Like noted in the video, work slowly and carefully on reassembly in order to avoid damaging the contact fingers, as they can bend VERY easy if you're not careful. Good luck on your rebuild.

Thank you for the recommendation on an alternate tool. I may have something similar already. One of my fingers has a broken tip. I was going to look at it when I remove for possible resuse. Mostlikely will require a new finger.

 

[Mixed Freight]

I often work the old fingers into position for reuse. They get replaced if the ends are worn out or really twisted. Old ones are much heavier built.
Whatever tool you do get, just pop it open and try not to bend the side plates.

One of my fingers has a broken tip. I was going to look at it when I remove for possible reuse. Most likely will require a new finger.

Same here. In addition to re-facing the armature from my 1655 loco, I also ended up refurbishing the E-unit. The finger tips, while not bent, were darn near worn through right at their drum contact point. Every last finger on this particular unit!

I cut some new tips from some .005" or .006" thick phosphor bronze sheet, 1/16" wide x approx. 3/32" long, formed them with a Kadee/MTL trip pin wire bending pliers, and soldered them in place right on top of the original finger tips. I have also replaced a partial or a whole finger on a few previous E-units with the same basic method. In every case, all my repaired E-units have worked perfectly after doing this.

No doubt about it, this home-made method of refurbishing E-unit fingers takes quite the bit of fineness. My mom always said I should have been a micro-neuro surgeon when I was growing up. But I ultimately decided to get into model railroading, mainly for all the groupies and the huge financial rewards!

 

[Blk6999]

I hear you regarding the finiancial rewards. Fairly confident it would have been cheaper to purchase a better maintained and running 224 then what I will have in the restoration of mine. Labor of love I would say. I decided to go new with the fingers, hopefully the repo will work. Hope to have this engine running in a couple of weeks

 

[Bruette]

regarding the financial rewards.

If smart financial decisions played any role in my model train hobby, I would have jumped the tracks and abandoned it long ago.

Labor of love I would say

I couldn’t agree more. The joy I get from my trains can’t be measured in dollars or explained by common sense.