I was downstairs and you could hear the train clearly going around the tree, hardwood floors help that way!! Suddenly it was quiet. Ran upstairs and it had stopped and was making a sound similar to an e-unit buzzing. Killed the power and this is what I found.
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Obviously something bound up. Any ideas where to start?
Thanks!!
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Jeff,
Bummer! Is it still under warranty? I just bought ours last week, and it has a one year warranty.
Stuff happens Mark!! Warranty, long gone!!
I figured that, or you wouldn't have posted for help. However, I thought I would post anyway. I actually wasn't sure how long the LC PE sets have been out. Time flies whether you are having fun or not!! 
There looks like quit a bit of play between the rod and bushing on the center driver.
Is that bolt loose ?,This could allow the return crank to rotate out of position thereby bending the rod.
With only the one picture to look at I would say check the valve stem from the linkage, looks like it may be just a tad short and fell out and jammed against the cylinder head.
RickO posted:There looks like quit a bit of play between the rod and bushing on the center driver.
Is that bolt loose ?,This could allow the return crank to rotate out of position thereby bending the rod.
I guess that falls into the category of optical illusion. I've got it disassembled, bottom end only, and all the screws for the side rods were quite tight. I may clean it all up, add grease, and see what happens.
Something was binding at low speed as you could hear a clicking.
Your problem is the flimsy guide the crosshead rides on was bent. You can put it back.
Marty Fitzhenry posted:Your problem is the flimsy guide the crosshead rides on was bent. You can put it back.
When it first went back up it was straight. The bend occurred during the incident.
Looks like I just clean it real well, regrease and reassemble...
I had the same problem with mine. Turned out to be one of the wheel sets was bad and the wheel had spun on the axle. This put the side rods out of quarter. Lionel has the wheel sets, easy to replace
Roger, Thank you for sharing that information! Hopefully Jeff will be back in business, though it will be after this Christmas! I'll tuck that tip away since I have one. Although the problem could have been corrected by the time the built mine, we never know when it could happen to another locomotive!
Roger TEB posted:I had the same problem with mine. Turned out to be one of the wheel sets was bad and the wheel had spun on the axle. This put the side rods out of quarter. Lionel has the wheel sets, easy to replace
Thank You Roger!! Did you replace the one loose wheel set or just replace them all?? I tried mine and they all seemed tight. I'm going to reassemble without the siderods and see what happens.
Bend it all back and make sure the side rod bolts/screws are tight. Then, when funds allow, replace it with a 726 or 736 post war berk. Local display layout wore out several of these PE engines and finally broke down and got a postwar berk and now all I do is service it every fall and replace motor brushes. The postwar berk is longer and captures the mass of the PE berk so much better IMHO.
Well, my mini nut drivers arrived, I straightened the rods, tightened all the screws and everything appears fine. It was making a slight "clicking" sound prior to stopping so that had to be the precursor to the problem.
Jeff, I’m glad the new tools took care of it!! I guess all of us should pay attention to these precursors, and even look out engines over from time to time. I get so little train time, that I just want to ignore maintenance and just run trains!! LOL
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