Lionel 6-28314 Vision Line UP Genset Service and Rebuild!

Finally had the chance to post some pictures of the original body - 

The Wheels and pick-ups will also be replaced, so this engine will be like new when finished!

Looks like some oil has gotten to this bit here!

 Cleaned and rebuilt smoke unit! - Still waiting on Fiberglass Wadding and the new heating elements to arrive.

You're replacing the wheels and the pickups?  What do you perceive is wrong with those?  I'm not sure I understand what is unrepairable on the shell, is it just the missing decals and some painting?

I figure if I am doing everything else, i might as well do all the parts that have wear on them.

The shell does have some broken parts and handrails. The road numbers have been rubbed off as well. I know it is possible to just get the decals from micro scale, but i would prefer to have the whole thing look and run like new.

Well, it certainly sounds like it will be like new!  I'm not sure I see what replacing the wheels will accomplish, they certainly don't look excessively worn to me, neither do the rollers.  However, it's only money...

just checked the prices - it would be around $65 to do the wheels and pick up rollers - maybe I will hold off on that for now.

I truthfully don't think you'll notice the difference, and you have to save the pennies for the shell!   I agree if there are other broken parts and the decals, fixing it might be more problematic.  There are a lot of little pieces on those, that's for sure!

You are right - I have thought about it and will just be doing the shell and other parts that are on the inside that have been ruined - I can always do those parts later since they are easy to get to.

Those are the parts that you'll see and/or are important to operation.  Sounds like a plan, we look forward to seeing your "new" Genset.

beeblet65,

    Very nice thread, I'm looking forward to seeing the progress and the finished product.

Unfortunately the resistor's don't come shaped like your old one's. They will be pin straight, you will have to bend them like that. 

Thanks,

Alex

Thanks for posting this repair project. I am enjoying the great pictures and looking forward to the final views of the repaired engine.

Alex - Thank you for your post - is there an easy way to bend them to the shape that they are - I am trying to figure out how to make it look like it was done at the factory.

Starting at about half the length of the lead, bend the remaining around a Phillips screwdriver shaft. Then bend that curled part to position it as it is on the old resistors. 

Practice on some old 1W comp resistors, they're about three cents.

Hey All - Well I'm back making progress on the UP Genset - and what is this?? - A box of parts...hmmm

First things first, finish up all the smoke units. - I was able to figure out how to bend them properly - first one took some time, but after that, the others were a snap!

Perfectly Reproduced!

Fully installed in the smoke unit - the hardest part about this was getting the small 3mm bolts tightened down.

Adding the accessories to the new shells cab interior - I had to transfer everything from the old shell as the new shell only has the legacy antenna cables installed.

All 3 smoke units back into place - this is a lot of wire management! - I hope they all work and i do not have to go back in there.

The new shell in the front with the old shell in the back

All set to rejoin the body with the chassis

But wait - cannot forget the control panel! - I bought a second one as my original one looked like oil got on it. Well there is the new one from lionel and looks the exact same - oh well...on it goes.

Making the final connections - there are a lot of cables and I am checking each connector incase anything got pulled out of place over time.

AND THE FINISHED PRODUCT - ALL NEW WINDOWS INSTALLED!! - LOOKS LIKE NEW

AND MORE GOOD NEWS...

I put it on the track to test it, everything was working just perfectly, except the 3 smoke stacks - could not image why they were not working until I checked my switch box on the engine and saw they were all off - lol Flipped the switch and everything was working better than NEW!

Here is the old shell - will probably sell and hope to get $150 or so

AND THATS IT!!

Working like new and looking like new.

Final Thoughts - 

So was it cheaper to do this than buy one lightly used?

well, it might have been, but doing this means that I now know every part of that engine and how it goes together. and buying one that needed nothing just would not have been as fun.

It might of been but it all works.  I can barley get new ones to run out of the box. I never bought a used engine that hasn't needed something. 

Great job, and as you say, you probably have insights you never would have had before the task!

sometimes the knowledge is worth the extra cost - even something as simple as the smoke units - I have never taken apart them before. Now I know the basics of the parts needed for them!

Great job looks new you took a chance and did it now there is not a lionel engine you can not fix after that project wish I had your patience