Need help testing PW e-units

Be sure to test it in the upright position, it will not work upside down. Check to make sure the brass contact fingers are all touching the drum. As you mentioned, check for any loose or broken wires. 

Don

Rail,  thanks.  I think its probably broken wires.  THey are really brittle.  I have taken apart the e-unit,  I recall testing the coil on a crossing gate a while back, I think I just put the plunger in part way and then added some power to the coil and if the plunger moves, then the coil is good.  I will try that later to night and see if that works.

Other than broken wires, coils rarely, if ever go bad. Check the contacts, replacing them if they are worn through, and replace the drum if it is warped, burned, or the pivots on the end are worn. Reassemble the e-unit, making sure the contact fingers touch the drum properly and with sufficient pressure. Add and remove power to the coil wire and the frame, and the e-unit should cycle.

Larry