Forgot to mention: Original smoke bulbs are fairly easy to come by. And Town & Country Hobbies had a decent reproduction made.
Older reproductions were made by adding a dimple to an automotive bulb.
The Town and Country ones look like the original.
How many years was the 726 made ?? The 1946s were different than the later ones ?? I think. I have a 726, packed away now, but I don't think it is a '46 one. Complicated
46 only, double worm drive, horizontal motor, 47-> angled motor single worm drive. 46 also had the smoke bulb and probably a few other subtle differences.... I think the boiler casting was changed up around the smoke stack as well. This is a poor picture, but second from the top left is my 1947 2131WS set, and yes it seems to have come to the original owner with the grey crane. I got the set on consignment from the original owner, so I'm pretty confident that is was it was sold. Either way, doesn't matter now, it's a really nice set and smooth as silk running. Above it is the recent Lionel CC 2129 WS set. It's not nearly as nice a set as the original.
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I have a 726 that was my Dad's and then mine when I was kid. As far as I can tell, it has a "double worm", it rolls freely when not under power. But it also does not have a bulb smoke unit. The smoke unit in it is/was a wire coil. I don't know what year it is.
Starting in 1947, Lionel offered kits to convert smoke bulb Berkshires (and turbines) to heater type smoke units.
The kits had a new smoke unit, a new boiler front door, and a few other odds and ends. Lionel still had the Berkshire kit showing on their 1968 parts list. Today the kits are quite collectable. They are on EBay from time to time. There is one there right now.
Funny, but most of the 1946 Berkshires I've seen were not converted.
The domes on the Berkshire boiler were changed from 1947 and on.
C W Burfle posted:I suggest trying to figure out whether the play is between the axles and the bearing, or the bearing and the die cast chassis. A very experienced Lionel repairman told me that sometimes the bearings needs to be shimmed in the frame. I have had a number of 1946 Berkshires on my desk, but have not run into one that needed these shims. I do not recall how he said this was done.
I think that the play is between the bearings and the chassis. I can see the bearing moving around. I'll post some pictures when I get it apart. Gonna be busy all week, so it might be a while.
I got the engine apart and it looks like the bearings are fine, but they move about in the chassis, mostly up and down. I see about a 1/32 inch gap between the top of the bearing and the top of the chassis.
Here are some pictures. Is there a way to shim the top of the bearing so it fits snug against the bottom plate where the pick up rollers attach?
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Shimming above or below the bearings will effect the engagement between the worms and the worm wheels. The worm wheels need to be engaged deeply into the worms without actual metal to metal contact at the tip or in the root. Maybe you can use some hard wax to determine the gear engagement. The two center axles should follow the same pattern of shimming to keep the crank pins in a straight line.
I am working on one of these for a friend and there is a lot of up and down play in all the axles. I am guessing around 3/32 of an inch. Is that normal? Smoke bulb is blown, but the engine works.
I don't see where anybody asked: How does the engine run with the play?
Is the mechanism binding, or does it run smoothly?
The last 1946 726 I had out on my layout ran smooth as silk. It's put away at the moment.
I might be able to pull it out later and see how much play it has.
I'll be the straw man on this.
I got out that 1946 version 726. It runs very smoothly. The drivers do seem to have a lot of up and down play. I held a ruler to a flange while moving the wheel up and down. I'd estimate the play to be 1/32 inch.
The play seems to be between the bearing and the frame.
It seems to be the same on all four axles.
I think that all the ones I've seen have a lot of play
The engine runs great. (it has been run quite a bit)
With the weight of the engine on the wheels, how much movement is there going to be?
What would cause wear between the bearing and the frame?
Maybe the play is normal?
I don't recall seeing anything on bearing play in the Lionel service manual section on this engine. Nor do I recall any bulletins on it.
I think that all the ones I've seen have a lot of play
I don't have a 1946 671, wish I did, but your observations on the axle/bearing play makes a lot sense to me. I would run it as is and see how the engine performs before changing anything.
I still learn something every day. I just saw this post and see that the 726 from 1946 apparently has two different drive trains. I have a 726 from 1946. It was my first engine in 1946. It has the angled worm gear drive and smoke bulb. No magnetraction.
I still learn something every day. I just saw this post and see that the 726 from 1946 apparently has two different drive trains. I have a 726 from 1946. It was my first engine in 1946. It has the angled worm gear drive and smoke bulb. No magnetraction.
That is a new one on me.
Does the E-unit have a lever going through the roof of the loco, or is it controlled by moving a mini-banana plug between two jacks?
(I still am learning things about Lionel trains too)
How many years was the 726 made ?? The 1946s were different than the later ones ?? I think. I have a 726, packed away now, but I don't think it is a '46 one. Complicated
The 726 was made with nickel rims between 1946 and 1949.
The 1946 model was unique, it is the only one with a smoke bulb, double worm drive, e-unit controlled with plug & jacks.
It also has a unique boiler. The domes were changed for the 1947 run.
The cowcatcher was changed for the 1948 run.
1946 and 1947 locos do not have a simulated front coupler.
Starting in 1948 the locos did have a simulated front coupler.
I think that only the 1946 had turned handrail stanchions, but I'd have to check on that.
From 1946 to 1949, they came with the 2426 die cast metal tender.
The 726 was brought back in 1952. It did not have nickel rims. It is a 736 minus the magnet, which was unavailable due to the Korean war. They are marked "726" or "726" with an "RR" underneath.
I believe it came with a 2046 tender. Not sure which version, or whether there was a suffix.
Here are some pictures of my 726 that I got for Christmas 1946. It has an E unit in it. It still works good today but is enjoying retirement.
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GHD: Your 726 does look like a 1946 version.
It looks great, you must have taken very good care of it.
It appears to have the standard 1946 motor, not the slanted worm drive motor used from 1947 and on.
GHD ,very nice "46" model of the 726 which exactly like yours has the small sanddome and no e-unit slot on top.
Hopefully you find time to run it once in a while as i run mine they are excellent runners in my opinion and yours looks to be well taken care of after all the years that have past.
GHD, Nice pictures and a really nice layout. I had a nice 726 Lionel Berkshire and it looked exactly like yours. Although life experiences happen, I had to sell my post war collection...When I returned to the hobby, TMCC was just beginning so, if I was going to start over, it had to be Command...I have the TMCC Century Club 1 726....The sounds are great....I have a love for the old, but an addiction for the new. Great post....
( as far as running, pulling, smoking, it was fine. It would pull Ok, however, not like our modern Berkshires....It would handle 6-8 post war freight cars...This was a really nice Locomotive in its day.)
Thanks for the nice comments. That engine got a lot of use every year from November to March.Then the Holidays were over if you know what I mean. One of my favorite engines today is my NP berk. It put old 726 into retirement but it was well deserved. I have run it under the Christmas tree along with my 8976 0-6-0 switcher from 1939. My boys asked me to do that. A lot of good memories here. Oh well, progress.
Thanks for the input. I'll get it back together and see how it runs on track. It ran fine on my bench.
C W Burfle posted:quote:My 726 looks pretty much like my 736s except there is a bloody great weight bolted over the drive gear housing.
Then it is not a 1946 model.
Then it is a quieter and better puller than a 1946.
I like the 726 engine. Its a heavy well made, strong running, good looking engine. The 1946 version with the handrail stanchions and cast tender is in my collection but the tender name has completely worn off. Don't know if anyone sells a decal or not. Smoke bulbs were reproduced years ago and a large supply is still available. The smoke unit was designed to run on ammonium nitrate pills but after a year the unit was modified to use the safe and non-corrosive smoke pellets. You can get good smoke from those old engines with modern smoke fluid and a bit of wicking material. With proper care that engine will last another 72 years
C W Burfle posted:quote:My 726 looks pretty much like my 736s except there is a bloody great weight bolted over the drive gear housing.
Then it is not a 1946 model.
Then it is a quieter and better puller than a 1946. As for the "bloody great weight," that is strategically placed ballast that provides increased traction of the powered rearmost driving wheel. It also deadens the gear noise, which means a properly maintained and adjusted 47-49 729 is a quiet runner. Their761 M1 motors are virtually silent; the only time you can generally hear their soft "hum" is at very, very slow speeds. -Anything faster than that it is obscured by the sound of the leading and trailing engine wheels on the rails.
I love that relative quietness, because it lets the ERR big steam sound unit I have installled in the 2426w tender of my 1947 Berk (which is equipped with a completely silent Dalee solid state e-unit) really shine.
Smoke bulbs were reproduced years ago and a large supply is still available.
Original smoke bulbs are readily available on EBay too. The GE part numbers were 797 and 799, but they are rarely offered under those numbers. The bulbs are marked with them.
GE custom made those bulbs for Lionel, who only ended up using them one year on three locomotives. When the smoke bulb was obsoleted, Lionel offered smoke unit conversion kits. Most of the smoke bulb engines I've handled were not converted. The kits were available for many years. Today a complete kit in the original packaging is a desirable item to have.
The GE run must have been quite large.
I just joined this forum and am the keeper of the families Lionel trains. My current layout, on three levels allows plenty of activity, but the early Madison's and the 1990's Sager Place deserved a special engine. Which is of course the 1946 726. My latest purchase, a 726 will require TLC because it has been messed with. The 2426 tender has been given a new road name but the bottom was unpainted. The 726 cab was renumbered too. I am looking forward to bringing it back to the way it should be. Hopefully it has not been totally repainted and everything is where it should be. It is due to arrive 5 days from now...I can hardly wait. Chuck/AZ
@Chuck242 posted:I just joined this forum and am the keeper of the families Lionel trains. My current layout, on three levels allows plenty of activity, but the early Madison's and the 1990's Sager Place deserved a special engine. Which is of course the 1946 726. My latest purchase, a 726 will require TLC because it has been messed with. The 2426 tender has been given a new road name but the bottom was unpainted. The 726 cab was renumbered too. I am looking forward to bringing it back to the way it should be. Hopefully it has not been totally repainted and everything is where it should be. It is due to arrive 5 days from now...I can hardly wait. Chuck/AZ
Chuck in Az. Very cool,...be sure to post up pics when you get it, and after you give her a new lease on life!...you’ll get a lot of food advise from the PW gurus on here....they’ll chime in I’m sure, but the 46 model of the 726 is one of their all time favorites if I’m not mistaken......have fun with your new project!.
Pat
@Dennis LaGrua posted:I like the 726 engine. Its a heavy well made, strong running, good looking engine. The 1946 version with the handrail stanchions and cast tender is in my collection but the tender name has completely worn off. Don't know if anyone sells a decal or not. Smoke bulbs were reproduced years ago and a large supply is still available. The smoke unit was designed to run on ammonium nitrate pills but after a year the unit was modified to use the safe and non-corrosive smoke pellets. You can get good smoke from those old engines with modern smoke fluid and a bit of wicking material. With proper care that engine will last another 72 years
Get rubber stamp and restore
The 726 arrived yesterday. It was repainted and had Road name decals (gone now). I had to remove a few aftermarket hand rails from the lower rear of the tender and from the front of the engine. I think the previous owner may have had it on a true scale set up because I also removed a aftermarket scale knuckle couple from the 'cow catcher'. No damage though. Question, did an early (how early is early?) 726 have stanchions where the flag holders would be, and did they ever come with all black hand rails? Handrail stanchions are black too...probably from the repaint. Boiler door swings loose. All in all it runs, but I have not tried to pull the Madison's. The whistle and bell have aged beautifully, Nickle plate is long gone. I will try to add a few photos. Chuck
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Chuck242 you asked Question, did an early (how early is early?) 726 have stanchions where the flag holders would be, and did they ever come with all black hand rails? Handrail stanchions are black too...probably from the repaint.
Those shown stanchions for flag holder are not correct and did not come with black handrails .
Also would like to mention replacement side rods are made to fit 1947 version when used for 1946 version the holes must be enlarged by .010 with round file to prevent binding.
This according to Greenbergs Repair and Operating Manual.
