Motor of the Week - Week 10 - Please help identify!

I have been following these weekly motor threads with interest. Since none of the leading lights have responded yet, let me get the ball rolling.

Motors looking like this were used in the 226E, 225E, and 224E prewar, and in the 224, 675 and 2025 postwar.

The brushplate style on motor A has a 226 part number, and can also be found on the 225E, 675 and 2025.

The brushplate style on motors B and C was used on many smaller steamers prewar and during the early postwar period. But only the 224 had these wheels, so these must go with the 224 / 224E.

On motor C, I notice that the collector arm pivots are screws, while on A and B they are pins with horseshoe clips. I believe that screws were used here only during the prewar period, but not all prewar motors used the screws - I have a prewar 225E with screws, and a prewar 224E with clips. I assume screws are earlier production, and clips were introduced later for cost savings.

So I am going to say that motor C definitely comes from a prewar 224E, probably early production. Motor B is also from a 224/E, either prewar or postwar. Motor A could be 225E, 226E, 675, or 2025.

My take is motor 'A' is from 226, 225, and 675 & 2025.

Those have the lever style brush springs.  B & C are from a 224 with the coil brush springs. The only difference between the 3 of them is the brushplate. I guess if it has the lever style brush springs it is considered a O gauge engine, and if the motor has coil style brush springs it is considered a lighter duty 027 engine.

Basically the same as Nick said.

I guess if it has the lever style brush springs it is considered a O gauge engine, and if the motor has coil style brush springs it is considered a lighter duty 027 engine.

I thought that a 224 was considered "O" gauge.
All three motors have "O" gauge badges on the collector plate.

Just looked at the service manual pages for the Postwar 224 on the Olsen's site. It shows a coil spring style brush plate and lists the brushes as 1661E-29. The brush springs are listed as 224E-101.

Other than the brushplates the motors are the same between a 224, 225, 226. I don't really know why Lionel changed brushplates just on the 224. Possibly because the lever style brush holder might not clear the body casting on 224 and went to the tube style holder.

In fairness, I took a close up of the collector arm pivot for Motor "B"

As you can see, there is neither screw nor horseshoe clip. This might not have been evident in the earlier photos. How does this affect your decisions?

As you can see, there is neither screw nor horseshoe clip. This might not have been evident in the earlier photos. How does this affect your decisions?

What does the other side look like? Your photo is of the shouldered side.

I clearly see a horseshoe clip on this sample.

C W Burfle posted:

As you can see, there is neither screw nor horseshoe clip. This might not have been evident in the earlier photos. How does this affect your decisions?

What does the other side look like? Your photo is of the shouldered side.

Here is the other side, C.W.:

Hard to tell, it looks like a snap (retaining) ring to me.
I'd have to look at some of my locomotives. I don't think I remember seeing a snap ring at that location. It was usually a horse shoe washer, or maybe an "E" clip.
I wonder whether your snap ring is a field replacement.

I have no idea, C.W. I suspect it is not, since the train set was in original neglected condition, and had not been run since the 50s according to its owner, the son of the man who bought it.

Hard to tell, but it looks like a oversized E clip.

I have no idea, C.W. I suspect it is not, since the train set was in original neglected condition, and had not been run since the 50s according to its owner, the son of the man who bought it.

Not a big deal. I didn't think Lionel used that style retaining ring.  They seem to have used horse shoe washers and "E" clips.
All I am saying is that someone could have replaced a lost or broken horse shoe washer or "E" clip with a retaining ring. 

The only place where a retaining ring was used on a Lionel item that comes to mind is on the pivot shaft of an ST-350 rivet press. The press was actually made by Chicago Rivet and Machine co.

Hard to tell, but it looks like a oversized E clip

I think I see the holes in the lobed ends of the clip that are there for inserting the tool tips to install and remove the clip. (The one in the upper right hand corner seems to be the style).

Yes, now that I looked even closer, it does appear to be a retaining clip like CW said.

So it look like Nick nailed it with:

"A" being a 225E, 226E, 675 or 2025

"B" being a 224/224E

"C" being a 224E

So, Nick, here is your Certificate of Awesomeness:

You now join an exclusive and illustrious group of experts!

Congratulations!