One of the pickup rollers on my Lionel B&O EM-1 articulated Legacy locomotive lies flat, perhaps broken spring, but not a visible flaw. It obviously does not touch center rail causing power dropout. Can these be repaired, though not evident to me, or must be replaced? If replaced, please suggest a source for the part. Lionel provides no help to out of warranty. I had better acquire a few. Are their different modern roller assemblies or is it one size fits all? Thanks
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Can you provide the model number for your engine, as well as a quick photo of the pickup roller? If the pickup roller assembly is held in by a screw, you could probably just replace the roller assembly.
https://www.lionelsupport.com/...TIVE-ONLY-6101340001
the direct part link
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I think if you pull this end back around inside the roller assembly, the roller will return to normal. It obviously popped out.
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Yes John that’s what I saw immediately.
Looking at the pictures, it looks like the spring end has popped out of the roller and is now against the body. I can't tell if it is broken at the end or just not enough side pressure to keep it in. If spring end goes back in, maybe a little bending to the side to put more side pressure on it to keep it in.
If the end is broken and the spring is not too brittle, you can tinker and unroll one loop and see if you can bend it to work. I have been tinkering such things all my life. Sometimes it works and other times you buy the part.
The parts are available on the lionel support page for this engine. Item 27/28. Looks like a standard pickup design.
The other thing to check appears to be the broken wire attached to the "Grease" screw. It shows up on other 11340 pictures. Possibly a ground wire from the pilot truck?
Thanks everyone, all very helpful. After tinkering it appears that roller wire is really broken, and I will order a couple new parts. I see now another is sagging and though I will order its replacement, if it takes the repair then I will have a spare. This engine is much too nice to sit unused.