Old Lionel motor

pic would help, but I have a couple of those, defiantly sounds like Pre/Postwar.

Could be 224, 225, or 226.  Probably dates from late 1930s to late 1940s. 

I looked at my older engines and it resembles the one in my 221 and  definitely my 2-224Es  with the rollers on the bottom.  Will have to get the E unit fixed-I hope.  Thanks

I hate e units...I've had some success repairing them, but am just as likely to pull them.

I've never seen one without springs.  The spring is needed to hold the brush against the commutator.

Is the motor shaft perpendicular to or parallel with the track?

Jim,

Are you sure there aren't actual springs stuck in those tubes?  Sounds like a motor that uses tender type springs attached to a brush with a shoulder.

Roger

Steamer posted:

I hate e units...I've had some success repairing them, but am just as likely to pull them.

I'm with you!

E units are a necessary evil.  Actually a very intriguing mechanical/ electrical design.  There are no external springs on the brushes of the motor, possibly internal. the shaft is perpendicular to the track.  It is the same as a 224e motor. Looking at it, I didn't think it was pre-war but it must be.  Half the E unit is there and I know a repairman who, i think, can fix it. I have no need of it but you never know !! My 224Es are great runners.

Jim, actually, the QSI ACRU units were an easy replacement and far better than the e-units.

A caveat:  There are several types of those perpendicular motors, and the brush plates are not interchangeable electrically although they do fit.

I have another old motor with sliding shoes on it and the brush plate has the springs on the brushes.  My repair guy is pretty good at this stuff. his father was a Lionel repairman. I will let him figure it out.

E units really are not that difficult and you can fix them with simple hand tools. Takes about 12.00 worth of parts. Go to You Tube and watch the Lionel E unit repair videos.

Rob

You could have the answers tonight if you could post pics.

I think I have my answers on this motor and I thought about some photos but  didn't think they would be necessary. I have fooled with a few E-units but I am , sort of, fumble fingered and it gets harder to see all the little things. I have slowed down the purchase of "new" engines and concentrating on getting what i have in good working order. Might purge a few from the roster but hard to get rid of them.

Spoked drivers or discs? Steel rims or no?

Discs , no steel tires, no Magnetraction. just like the drivers on my two 224Es. I am missing the one side plate for the E unit so will look for it tomorrow.