Postwar Lionel 2243 Disassembly, E-Unit Repair, Service and Lube. The First Step Towards an ABA Set!

Postwar Lionel 2243 Disassembly, E-Unit Repair, Service and Lube. The First Step Towards an ABA Set!
In this video I use the E-Unit jig by PE Design and Manufacturing ‪@pedesignmanufacturing9121‬
Link to their train tools:
pedesignmanuf.com/?page_id=1309
Before I combine this engine with my other 2243 AB set, I need to make sure it works well on its own.
Hope you enjoy the video!
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Thanks for watching!
TeeSpring: merchandise coming soon!
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Instagram: / dagryffyn
email: [e-mail]
Mailing Address:
Dagryffyn Hobby
PO Box 113
Hillsdale, NJ 07642
________________________________________
I use Labelle Lubricants
Labelle 102 oil
Labelle 106 grease
Labelle 107 light oil
Available as a three pack for hobbies and trains
labelle-lubricants.com
________________________________________
Original songs composed by James Kinne
Instagram @jameskinnemusic
www.jameskinnemusic.com
All music used with permission from the artist
________________________________________
The legal stuffs:
I have no affiliation with Lionel, or anything else for that matter, and my repair methods are my own based on what has worked for me.
I am not a professional but a passionate hobbyist. Your results may vary. I am not responsible for any damage resulting from any repair method. I am here mostly to provide inspiration and insight.
You can do it, grab your tools and get to work!
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#dagryffyn #lioneltrains #modelrailroad

[@tomrogers5516]

You're a very talented and patient man, Dave. I guess there was a time I could hang in there, too, but not any more. You're not only thorough about the process, but also about recording the steps you take to get the job done. Thanks for giving fans a birds' eye view of the work and what goes into it, as you always do. I hope you get a lot of satisfaction from running that A-B-A set from now on.

[@dagryffynhobby]

Thank you very much Tom! I’m not necessarily as calm and patient as I come across in the videos, that’s one of the benefits of video editing! Haha.

[@jrmeindl]

I remember, when I worked at a hobby shop repairing trains, 'E' units were always the one thing that caused issues of not locomotives not running. Many people did not understand how the 'E' units work. People would always fool around with the fingers. I spent many hours taking them apart and correcting the issues with them. Many times we had to replace the fingers. I always enjoyed fixing all of the Lionel rolling stock. Always great to see videos like this.

[@dagryffynhobby]

Thank you. I figure it’s always best t replace the fingers, I just don’t do it! I think may of the issues I have with my engines can be traced to the e-units. Those points of contact are so small, it’s important that they are in good condition.

[@stephenmaddox4434]

Sling shooting brushes across the room is always fun !!! 😂😂😂

[@dagryffynhobby]

Oh it’s my favorite! 😆

[@NeedtoSpeak]

You are very patient…..these trains can be touchy. Good job….I loved watching you work on this engine.

[@dagryffynhobby]

Thanks so much. As I always say, I edit out the parts where my patience fails me!

[@gregt6363]

I have the same fingernails dirt under them. I'm also a mechanic diesel semis. This is Parr of the hobby I enjoy most tear down. Once seeing what these things were when new again is the best.

[@dagryffynhobby]

Definitely. Between work and hobby my hands are always dirty

[@stevencilento3364]

Wow Dave that wound up being really involved. You did a great job getting it back in running order.

[@dagryffynhobby]

Thanks! I could do more but I’m not really trying to restore it to new, just get it working. I don’t have the patience to make it like new! Lol

[@williamlee1429]

You're absoultely right, Dave, a Super O groove is like a Bigfoot footprint, you'll know it when you see it.

[@dagryffynhobby]

Cool! I’ve seen a lot of roller wear but it’s usually from tubular center rails!

[@thomasshannon3393]

Ahh dont ya just love working on those e-units. Good job Dave, those f3s look great!

[@dagryffynhobby]

Not really! haha, but it is a necessity for sure

[@TimMacPA]

Great stuff. I learn so much from your breakdown and build-up videos. Thanks.

[@dagryffynhobby]

Thanks so much! I’m glad the videos are helpful.

[@northpennvalleysteamrailroad]

Awesome video Dave! Your work with postwar stuff is incredible as always! -NPVSRR

[@dagryffynhobby]

Thanks so much 👍

[@scpvrr]

Nice to see you back on repairs! Well done.

[@dagryffynhobby]

Thanks! Hopefully much more to come

[@Coreyt1976]

Great video Dave. I love how you took your time and cleaned in between every space. I’m sure that makes a big difference.

[@dagryffynhobby]

Thanks Corey. It’s all worth it when you ur the engine on the rails and it works and runs smoothly!

[@joegennari395]

WOW< WOW

[@dagryffynhobby]

Thanks so much 👍

[@joesattler2773]

I have to say the portion of the video describing the use of the PE E-Unit jig is definitely the best I have seen on You Tube. There are others that touch on the subject of E-unit repair, but you show exactly how it's done. Great job, I am going to get myself the jig. I've done several without the proper tools and as I am getting older it's more difficult to do. Fantastic video, please keep them coming!! A+++

[@dagryffynhobby]

Thanks Joe, I do try to make the videos useful and understandable. Glad you find value in this one. The tool definitely helps, the fact that it holds the drum saves me so much frustration.

[@locowillyrails9128]

Dave’s got mojo! Thank you. I’m servicing an old post war s2 turbine. Needed an e-unit refresher. Merry Christmas to you and family.

[@dagryffynhobby]

Glad the video was helpful. I really like the turbines and working on them. Such great engines. Merry Christmas to you

[@royroberts5333]

Nicely done Dave. Great to see another E unit rebuild, thanks.

[@dagryffynhobby]

Thanks! It was about time that I got back to repairs.

[@robertgrothey2429]

Great video Dave very informative

[@dagryffynhobby]

Thanks 👍

[@dbtech7914]

Great video. When I am cleaning a chassis that is that gunked up, I get the big stuff out then clean it with soap and hot water. I use awesome orange, blue dish detergent, or simple green. They are good degreasers.

[@dagryffynhobby]

Thanks! There are so many ways to clean the stuff up, I love hearing everyone’s different preferred methods. I frequently use diluted dish soap and warm water, really does wonders.

[@TomzTrainzandAccessories]

Good stuff Dave! It was amazing to see some of what looked like original grease that turned into hard chunks! Spraying it down with WD-40 is a good way to loosen up the old grease and oil. I do that myself, but what I’ve also done on tough things like this is let it soak in diesel fuel, and that really gets in all the nooks and cranny’s, then use an old toothbrush to give it a little scrubbing, and it softens up and dissolves old hard grease. It really cleans up amazingly. Great job on that E-unit. They sure can be tricky to work on. Having that jig really makes things easier.

[@dagryffynhobby]

Thanks! I had a smoke unit, metal parts, seized together with old smoke pellet residue. Sprayed it and soaked it with wd-40, couldn’t get the two cups apart. Gave up and put them in a ziploc. Ended up going back to them much later, couple months. Took the parts out of the bag and they came right apart!

[@loubro2372]

Great how to with the E-unit Dave.

[@dagryffynhobby]

Thank you!

[@loubro2372]

Did you get the bridge plans?

[@dagryffynhobby]

@@loubro2372 I haven’t had a chance to get to the PO, hopefully tomorrow

[@mr.shadestrains6033]

Great video Awsum 🚂🙃👍👍👍👍👍

[@dagryffynhobby]

Thanks!

[@plunkervillerr1529]

Marx guy here, I`ve flushed out some of my projects with rubbing alcohol and vacuumed plus lubed with silicon spray. Silicon spray works so well on door locks, I thought it was worth a try.

[@dagryffynhobby]

Nice. There are certainly many ways to go about cleaning these things, I’m always in favor of just using what’s on hand.

[@thomasking4136]

Nice vid, especially the e unit repair. I may tackle one after getting that tool. Another way which is cheap, effective and easy to degrease trucks etc. is good ole paint thinner. 2 hour bath, blow dry and wipe=done. White teflon grease in the small tube works really well. (Cant remember name). Little bit goes a long way and after 12 years, no drying/hardening. While degreasing, shell gets warm dish soap bath with gentle tooth brush scrub in mommas sink. Blow dry and walla. Shallow groove in post great idea. Way easier than drill and tap. You probably are familiar with Jeff Kane the train tender. He has nearly every part for postwar lionel to include Those steps, at your kinda price, cheeeeep. Well done.

[@dagryffynhobby]

Thanks! Good tips. Paint thinner isn’t too harsh? The train tender, yup. I should really place a large order for a bunch of parts.

[@dagryffynhobby]

@@thomasking4136 awesome! I appreciate you passing on the tips and tricks!

[@stephenrickjr.7519]

Very informative video. My f3 is the earliest with 2 motors. It took me quite a while to refurbish with those horizontal gear boxes. Thanks 😊👍!

[@dagryffynhobby]

Glad you enjoyed it. I did start a series on my dual motor version but it’s been in pieces for a long time

[@johnblair8146]

The only 2243 I ever owned had an E-unit, one of whose fingers had become annealed from a short circuit. The finger was no longer "springy". I finally ended up replacing the entire finger assembly.

[@dagryffynhobby]

Yeah I figure the fingers I bent back into position moved again after it warmed up. Next step is to replace the fingers

[@chrisresor1893]

Very enjoyable and informative vid Dave! Love your demeanor. Having grown up in northern Ohio the New York Central is in my future. Keep those trains running!

[@dagryffynhobby]

Thanks so much Chris.

[@htssoutboardsboatstrains9784]

Excellent video as usual... apropos now for me as we have a NYC f3 to clean up

[@dagryffynhobby]

Thanks so much.

[@joeystrains.9316]

Excellent video Dave. You're right, any F3 ABA looks great. 6464 boxcars would look impressive behind them.

[@dagryffynhobby]

Once these are all together I’ll have to run a bunch of 6464s behind them 👍

[@josephlynch3450]

Dave, great video. I have a 1954 Southern RR with dual motors. Lionel used spur gears on the horazontal motors that produce a growling noise. Not as quiet as your SF. Also, thanks for the info on the eunit jig. I have been looking for one for quite a while now and will have one soon.

[@dagryffynhobby]

Those dual motors with the spur gears are awesome, I love the sound of my nyc F3s growling around the layout.

[@rogerevoy6191]

Would suggest your getting a metal tin with lid. Fill with mineral spirits ("paint thinner") and use acid swabs to soak - wash away crud. It's nice to work on well cleaned.

[@dagryffynhobby]

Thanks for the tips. I may have to try that.

[@wayneantoniazzi2706]

Dave I can't say any more than everyone else has, but I DID give you a "like" on this one! Who'd have thought a clean-up of a nasty engine and rebuilding an e-unit could be so interesting!

[@dagryffynhobby]

Glad you enjoyed it. It’s a rewarding project

[@PedrotheOscalecollector]

Hey Davie awesome video I want a postwar steam engine and postwar switcher and f3 too because now I love the old lionel engine when I got older

[@dagryffynhobby]

Thanks! The old postwar stuff is great. Can’t really go wrong with it.

[@danielkane8752]

Dave, CRC contact cleaner. Super fast and effective.

[@dagryffynhobby]

Have some. Like it. Don’t love using it though.

[@sgtcote1]

Love your videos.. youve helped me restore my collection of post war trains.. I do have a question for you. What are your thoughts on using white lithulium grease for gearing and axels??

[@dagryffynhobby]

Thanks so much, I’m thrilled the videos help. Before I answer I’m just going to say, I’m just a hobbyist and not even close to a trained or professional repair guy. I do think white lithium grease would be fine for gears, I personally just don’t like the mess it makes. Basically and lubrication is better than none. I say use what you have and are comfortable with and observe the results.

[@Moodytr89]

Dave, I have an ultrasonic cleaning tank at the Train club in Columbia if you ever want to bring some parts to clean.

[@dagryffynhobby]

Thank you very much for the offer, I may take you up on that at some point.

[@bsalightning69]

I was wondering if you ever used a left hand drill bit to try and get out a broken off piece of screw? Sometimes it works. Boy with all the grease on the one truck I 'm wondering if putting it in a ultrasonic cleaner would help. Sounds like a good excuse to get one! Great video once again.

[@dagryffynhobby]

Thanks! At the moment I can’t remember what screw was broken! I have used reverse bits and extractors, but I don’t have a small set at home, maybe I should add that to the toolbox. I’m sure an ultrasonic cleaner would come in handy. I’ll have to look into it.

[@keystonecountryboy]

that grease reminds me of super lube, which I switched to using after I ran out of my old woodland seneics grease

[@dagryffynhobby]

I love the Labelle stuff. No complaints

[@trainman5603]

I had a really good friend who had that engine. I never understood why, given it was the classic Warbonnet Paint Scheme, Lionel did not give it the dignity of silver trucks.

[@dagryffynhobby]

The dual motor version had the silver trucks. The black trucks on the single motor version was probably a cost cutting measure.

[@railchief74]

I could go for another Santa Fe ABA unit set myself! I bet if you wanted to feed some connector wires threw the b unit to the other engine, I guess you could thread them threw the window hatches and the back of the engine and b unit

[@dagryffynhobby]

That is the plan, but most likely through the opening in the bottom of the frames so they don’t interfere with removing the shells.

[@railchief74]

@@dagryffynhobby that’s a good idea actually. I never would have thought of that

[@frankmarkovcijr5459]

What you do with these vintage locomotive is the equivalent of a frame off mechanical restoration.

[@dagryffynhobby]

Thank you, I appreciate that. I wouldn’t go so far as to say frame off, more of a frame on with a couple of shortcuts! Most likely like what I’ll do with my 51 Chevy 3800 if I ever get around to working on it

[@frankmarkovcijr5459]

@@dagryffynhobby if you restore your vintage truck the way you restore your vintage strange it will be fantastic did you get my text about the road signature line of diecast cars which are small enough to fit inside your car carriers, I got some from diecastdirect which advertisers in classic toy trains they might be able to help you so you can fill them up.

[@jamesking5217]

Dave: Getting ready to order wire to rewire my locos. What are the specifics to order the E Unit wire you use? Is it "Super Flex" or something different? Thank you.

[@dagryffynhobby]

The wire I’m using is silicone coated stranded tinned copper. Really whatever I find on Amazon.

[@robertmadison2752]

My PW F3 was shorting between the pickup roller and frame near the battery housing, causing the e-unit to advance to neutral. I tried tape, but it didn't stick to the frame. I applied Liquid Tape, which was quite messy and requires multiple coats--but it seems to work. Since neither you nor I usees switches, wedon't have to blame bad trackwork. Just not a very good design.

[@dagryffynhobby]

Interesting. I haven’t seen a short like that. I guess the tolerances were pretty loose initially and with years of play, things loosen up enough to cause issues

[@genemanno1533]

I find it amazing nobody has recommended an ultrasonic tank for cleaning until now. About 2 hours ago. Digging around with a screwdriver of knife just is not total cleaning all the gunk out. And time consuming.

[@genemanno1533]

A sealed truck is candidate for ultrasonic tank. As you can’t even see where the gunk is………..

[@genemanno1533]

What about the two thrust bearings under the retaining ring? A synthetic grease is the perfect lube since there is a race carrier for the balls. Typically they are full of gunk…….. ultrasonic tank perfect solution.

[@dagryffynhobby]

An ultrasonic tank would be awesome. Maybe someday I’ll get one. Until then I like to focus on what the average hobbyist can do with basic tools that most everyone has. But yeah, a good ultrasonic tank would be amazing

[@genemanno1533]

@@dagryffynhobbyultra sonic tanks for home use are now quite reasonable priced for hobbyist. At about $40 - $ 75 range for one sized for Lionel train stuff & wife’s jewelry. I just got one a bit bigger and all stainless steel so I can do carburetors and alternators for the cars and it was still under $99 at Amazon ship to my house. So it now is a reasonable to own tool.

[@dagryffynhobby]

@@genemanno1533 awesome. I’ll check it out. I didn’t realize they were that affordable

[@DRCRailroard]

Well done Dave. You should never under value the importance of a complete disassembly and maintenance video especially for the prewar, postwar, and mpc era engines. Most all of the engines and cars of those era's have been sitting for years and likely have never been serviced. I always preform a complete tear down and servicing of every engine I acquire before running them. I have taken apart a 2343 and found a flat spot on the worm drive shaft because I could tell it had been ran with dried hardened grease for a long time and had likely never been serviced. This caused erratic running. Fortunately I was able to comb it out enough to save it. Although these engines are built well, it's important to know most of the drive gears and bearings are very soft 1950's brass and hard dry grease will cause excessive wear. Operators need to understand these engines were produced using oilite brass bearings which is a soft porous brass that is designed to be soaked in oil to be thoroughly absorb by the brass for lasting protection. This is why some operators initally experience continually oiling noisy dry bearings untill they have finally absorb enough oil to run smoothly and quietly for extended operation. Only non detergent oils shuold be used. Oil is easier and cheaper to aquire than original parts. I cringe each time I see someone trying to run these for the first time after 70 years with dry crusty brass components. I use either CRC Electrical contact cleaner or mineral spirits to throughly clean parts. Mineral spirts is a non polar cleaner which is better suited for cleaning surfaces designed for providing electrical conductivity. Especially track. Non polar cleaners are non water based unlike isopropyl alcohol. All metal used in conducting electricity in model railroading is porous to a degree and will absorb whatever comes in contact with it. As most of us know by now, water and electricity don't mix well and water is responsible for rust and corrosion of metals. It's believed that's what causes zinc pest of prewar die-cast metal to disintegrate. They sit on basement shelves and absorb water vapor. Electricity running them occasionally will keep this from happening. To keep your collection, especially die-cast, in good condition they should be ran as intended.

[@dagryffynhobby]

Some really great points and information. I didn’t know about the brass. I’ll have to be more careful

[@DRCRailroard]

@dagryffyn hobby All is good, Dave. Your collection is yours to do as you wish. If you want to crash trains off a bridge like Gomez Addams, did that's your prerogative. I'm doing what I can to pass on information for what it's worth. It's what makes this hobby unique in the ability to share information and the responsibility for passing on what we have learned along the way. Guys, like you, are our voices for those of us who don't have a KZbin channel. I, too, am guilty of this very practice until I learned otherwise.

[@dagryffynhobby]

@@DRCRailroard the sharing of information, tips, tricks, and opinions (helpful ones anyway lol) is what makes this platform so great. I know I for one have learned a whole lot since I started the channel, and most of it comes from other people. Love our train nerd community.

[@DRCRailroard]

@dagryffyn hobby Dave, for me, it's a giant art project where trains can run through it. I think it is the ultimate therapy for expressing one's creativity in so many different forms. I have never done so many rewarding creative tasks all at once. I look forward to and cherish the fact that I'm always learning something new. This is the job I would love to do. If only I could make a living at it.

[@dagryffynhobby]

@@DRCRailroard you and me both! I’d love to build layouts for a living.

[@momatmach1]

It’s a nice 2243 but it’s not a 2343, another good tinkering video thanks

[@dagryffynhobby]

It’s not a 2343, but when taken on it’s own apart from its bigger better brother, it is definitely a respectable engine. I have pulled significant consists with this single motor version.

[@momatmach1]

@@dagryffynhobby naturally I am teasing as I want to see you rebuild your 2343s

[@dagryffynhobby]

@@momatmach1 haha! I want to see that too!