Lionel Dockside Switcher "Axle Spring" ?

How about a link to the parts photo.

CW,

Here is the part #.......  6208613170

https://www.lionelsupport.com/...815-CE0257AC6770D4FE

The part is shown in it's separate photo.....not on the large photo.

-Roger

 Yes, I see that the photo isn't any help. But maybe someone familar with the model will comment.

I had a lionel G scale thomas loco that used a similar spring to press outward from the side of the chassis to provide electrical contact. The spring had a cap though.

But since your part is called an axle spring, I'd look for a pocket around the area where the axles sit.  

You've probably already tried that, sorry i could not be of any help

The axle spring is shown in the parts breakdown picture, they just chose to hide it and they missed it themselves. It is sitting on the tread of the center wheel. It goes in the frame under driver axle of the center wheelset. You will see a pocket for it.

What upsets me about this loco is the main reverse circuit board is obsolete, with 1000's of docksiders out there, that is a shame. This is an example of what happens when electronics become obsolete, no known replacement.  Maybe from the Gingerbread dockside may be a possibility. The Gingerbread 0-6-0T shows the springs clearer in the breakdown picture.

Good candidate for conversion to TMCC, too bad the ERR Mini Commander II board is no longer available.

Excellent! Thank you, Chuck.  Much less to take apart when you just want to access the wheels. 

I just converted mine to DCC, now I have command and sounds for it.  These are great little engines.  I had to gut the smoke unit as the axle driven piston was binding.  At some point I'll put a HO smoke unit in it and then it'll be a really nice looking and sounding engine.

One of the best bangs for the buck in O gauge

Chuck,

Took the wheels off and put the spring where it belongs. Runs fine (at least for now). The motor problem I had concerned me. A friend was over the other night to run and lube engines.....one after another.....a bit overdue. As usually happens when you run a lot of stuff, some problem rears it's head. The Dockside started making awful screeching noises under load and ran slower in forward than reverse. I took it apart and found metal filings  in the gear case. Not a good sign. Looked like (but wasn't ) steel wool fibers. Not a drop of grease on the gears. I had sent that engine in for a new motor years ago.  Someone forgot to lube it. Cleaned it up, lubed it and (for now) it runs great. 

The spring location fooled me. I was looking for a hole for it. There's a hole at each end of the axle recess for the 3 axles. The nub on the axle bearing goes in there. The photo of the spring said.....drive axle spring. So I looked mostly at the rear axle recess. Even tried to put the spring on one of the nubs. Knew that wouldn't work. The compressed spring, small as it is, wouldn't fit under there. But the center axle recess....the holes are a touch larger and sure enough, it fit. Must be a ground path.        Nothing worse than taking something apart and finding an "extra" part. Especially, a spring. The dreaded......"boing" as it pops out and the basement floor swallows it. 

Thanks!

Roger

Good to hear you got business taken care of Roger.