Help With a Lionel 221 - Won't Run

No expertise but suggest making title more specific such as "Lionel 221 doesn't run, shorts transformer--help requested."

You probably know you have a short in the wiring and this will require taking it apart to search for the short. If this isn't something you are used to investigating, suggest sending to an experienced repair person rather than working on it yourself.

Take the body off and check all the wiring and insulation for integrity, especially the wire from the pickup assembly to the 'E' unit. 

Next check the 'E' unit itself, especially the drum. The small pivots on the end of the drum can break, jamming the drum and possibly shorting out through the copper contacts.

Larry

Which 221? Assuming an original issue, it would be one of the following:

The service documents for all the above are kindly hosted by Olsens:

http://www.olsenstoy.com/searchcd2a.htm

Note that the olive green ones are considered rare and valuable.

Steam locomotive 221

Here are the specific service documents for the NYC Steam 221: http://www.olsenstoy.com/221.htm

The first page has the wiring diagram and I, like others, suggest you start looking over the wiring.

GOOD ADVICE!  ☺

Cant access the motor the side rods are preventing access to the motor 

Another place you can have trouble is where the wire comes out of the back of the head light socket. I do not have a 221 in front if me, but you might have to take the drive rods and valve gear off to get the shell off. Not to hard to get back on. Just keep the track of which were right hand parts and which were left hand parts. And make sure when the crank pin is rearward the crank is pointing forward. 

What tool to remove them

Tinplate Art posted:

GOOD ADVICE!  ☺

  No yelling 

You use a nut driver to remove the 221-29 side rod screw. It will be a standard SAE size: 1/8, 5/32, 3/16, 7/32, or 1/4 (I don't recall which one off the top of my head)

Here is the parts view of the 221, and here is the view of the motor and wiring once  the body is off. With these, you can inspect the wiring for any cracked insulation that may be causing a short. You could also have a bad 'E' unit with a broken drum or contacts that is shorting out, but clear the wiring first.

Larry

Here is the engine

And another 

While looking over your motor and electrical gremlins, add replacing the 1661-33 contact shoes  (You are missing one as it is!). This is covered on pg 4 of the service documents I pointed you to yesterday.

bmoran4 posted:

Here are the specific service documents for the NYC Steam 221: http://www.olsenstoy.com/221.htm

The first page has the wiring diagram and I, like others, suggest you start looking over the wiring.

 

With the missing contact shoe, that is likely where the short is.

If you are not sure how to remove side rods, then I would suggest you get a pro to fix it up for you or you will have junk.

Thank you guys it was the wire running to the light that was shorting out