Need some advice, I ordered a used #2010 Lionel ES44AC early this week that arrived today. It is in nearly flawless paint condition and moves around the track very nicely however, the fan in the smoke unit doesnt spin instead I get a thin wisp from the stack and curiously from under the cooling radiator area as well. Shouldnt there be a gasket to keep the smoke going straight out the stack like my SD40-2? Also the cooling fan feature seems to be non functional, it isnt frozen you can turn the gears, but regardless of what I do with the engine conditions (speed,rpm,labor) the fans never spin, the contacts appear in good shape not bent any odd direction and they are in the same position as the rear lamp which works fine.
The anticipation I had for getting this loco has been years in the making. I have only just recently been in a position to spend so much on one locomotive, and now I'm wondering whats the best route to go down. Try for a return and keep looking? Find a qualified repair shop? Do it myself? I read a while back lionel doesnt take any non warranty repair work anymore.
Just feel kinda burnt on this one...
Anyone been inside of one how much of a pain is it?
