1946 PW 671

main thing I've always heard with these is if it has the original smoke bulb set up, that caused corrosion.

I don't know what you would pay for the loco but I would let a good repairman fix it. I have one but haven't worked on it. They are a different animal but mine runs good with no sign of corrosion. Just check the battery box and around the windshield.  Good luck.

I have a 1946 726 which has a similar drive.  E-unit is spring loaded.  When it started to stick, I replaced it with an ACRU.  Geared lower than most Lio el locos.

Other than the smoke unit, E-unit, and worm gear differences, the other differences include that the motor was mounted exactly horizontally, whereas later versions were mounted close at a 30 degree angle. This change, as well as the addition of weights in the boiler thanks to the smaller smoke unit, helped improve the pulling power and traction.  The E-unit lock on the 1946 version were done with a plug socket rather than a switch at the top of the boiler.

671/681, I have two 1946 2020s which is exactly the same engine as the 1946 671 except Lionel claimed the 671 was an O Gauge engine and the 2020 was an 027 engine but in reality there was absolutely no difference other than the cab numbers.  Both engines could run equally well on either 027 or 0 Gauge track. 

As has been pointed out the 1946 version of the Steam Turbine differed in several respects from the later models in that the 1946 engines came equipped with a horizontally mounted E-unit and a horizontal double worm drive motor along with the smoke bulb or lamp type smoke generator.  I am no ones idea of a class one repair technician but I have personally serviced both of my 2020s and found them no more difficult to repair and maintain than the later models.  I kept all of the original components in my 2020s because I like having examples of lionel's engineering efforts in regards to these engines.  I enjoy comparing the technological progression which took place in the manufacture of the Turbines.  I run mine quite often and make considerable use of the smoke bulb type smoke generator and to date I have not incurred any type of corrosive damage. 

If you decide you would like to try your hand at working on Lionel's postwar engines make sure you obtain a copy of Greenberg's Repair and Operating Manual for lionel Trains which can be easily obtained at Train shows/meets, ABEBOOKS.com or at a hobby shop.  Working on old lionel Trains is a lot of fun and is quite rewarding.  Good luck.

I got the 0-27 2020 for Christmas 1946. It pulled the original 4 car freight Later I added 3462 milk car. The loco had tough time pulling the 5 cars around 0-27 curves. Also replaced the smoke bulbhousing with the later heater smoke unit kit. the engine was asmooth runner and easy to maintain.I'm now sorry that I gave that set away when I went into the army.

I also have a 1946 2020 with the smoke bulb. Mine runs very good; I don't recall ever doing anything with the motor as it has been trouble free.

The one thing I did do was add some fiberglass packing on top of the smoke bulb. Adding quite a few drops of smoke fluid makes some pretty good smoke. Here's a very poor video:

It doesn't help that my "grass" is so light colored, making the smoke harder to see.

J White

This is a 671 that was from the electronic set, I just recently sold it. I don't remember how the e-unit worked being horizontal? It was an excellent runner.

franktrain 

quote:

 I don't remember how the e-unit worked being horizontal?

The e-unit's plunger is spring loaded with a light coil spring.

So there are three diferences:

The terminal plate does not have a switch lever

The plunger has a recess cut around the top end for the spring

The e-unit has a coil spring inside the tube

Back in the late 40's I needed an e-unit for the 2020.Went to Madison Hardware. Joe the repair installed a spring into the new e-unit.They were out of stopcock on the horizontal e-units.

RJR

What is an ACRU?  i'm not familiar with that.  Thanks

Bruce

Just FWIW: the horizontal e-unit was also adapted as the "motor" to operate the Merchandise Car. 

ARCU is a electronic e-unit.

franktrain

quote:

 I run mine quite often and make considerable use of the smoke bulb type smoke generator and to date I have not incurred any type of corrosive damage. 

The corrosion was caused by the original formula smoke pellets. They were made of some nasty stuff. Any that still exist would probably be decomposed by now. I don't think any of the modern materials, including "SP" smoke pellets would cause corrosion.

I never felt that my smoke bulb engines smoked worth a darn with either SP smoke pellets or smoke fluid, but its been years since I tried. I just run them dry. After reading about other people's experience, I think I will give one another try

quote:

If you decide you would like to try your hand at working on Lionel's postwar engines make sure you obtain a copy of Greenberg's Repair and Operating Manual for lionel Trains which can be easily obtained at Train shows/meets, ABEBOOKS.com or at a hobby shop.  Working on old lionel Trains is a lot of fun and is quite rewarding.  Good luck.

Most of the available manuals are reprints of the Lionel factory Service Station manual. I have a copy, and use it frequently.

You can also look up the service manual pages at Olsen' free online library. Not only do they have the original Lionel factory service station manual, they have created additional pages to fill in some of the gaps lionel left.