Hello fellow O-Gauge railroaders!
I seem to have discovered an issue with one of my engines. My Postwar Lionel #681 Turbine does not want to reverse properly, and is making a bunch of unhealthy noises when I attempt/it attempts to reverse.
I've had this particular 681 for approximately a year and two months now. I bought it from "Westside Trains" at Las Vegas, Nevada during Spring Break of2018 (shoutout to the two kind men at the store who were there if y'all are on this forum) alongside a modified 2046W tender that came with the engine (backup lights), a 9436 Burlington caboose and a PW 6357 lighted caboose. For the most part, this 681 has been in two places: On the track running, or on the track as a display. Over the past year and two months, it has never given me any problems when I've ran it and this is the first big red flashing alarm that age is catching up to the old engine. Now I'm no maintenance guy, but even I know a 681 isn't supposed to do this but I don't know what the problem is. I have come to the conclusion that it has to be repaired.
I talked to my family about the engine and possibly going to a local Hobbytown to get the issue looked at, but they told me to look around and see if the issue can be solves here at home before we spend money on it getting looked at. I would like you guys to give an opinion on it first. The main reason for this is because if the issue is minor and can be solved easily, I'd like to take that route to save a pretty penny. If the issue is NOT minor, I am not going to take any risks opening up the shell because I fear I may alter/damage something that in turn makes the engine virtually un-runnable.
Included is a video and 4 screenshots of the pickup rollers. The reason I am including the PU rollers is because they have a little indentation from approximately 60 years of running on track, which may or may not be another reason as to why the engine isn't working right. Better safe than sorry! Like I said, I'm no mechanic.
From the video below (or attached if not working), the sound it makes when attempting to reverse sounds like metallic clicking (kinda like the smoke puffer or the engine drawbar if you fiddle with it) and a louder-than-usual buzzing noise. What appears to be the problem? How can it be fixed? If the issue is minor and solvable at home, what do I do? If the issue is NOT minor, do I send it to the service station?
Thanks again as well!