Postwar service and repair

I found that the video "Maintenance & Repair Guide for Lionel Electric Trains & Accessories" pretty helpful. It's on Amazon and if you have prime it's included. Best of luck!

Try the Ray Plummer Book HERE. Lot's of good jumping off points.

As Rob said, Plummer's book is an excellent resource.

Also, YouTube can be a friend--replaced the belt on a 397 coal loader successfully after finding a very good video.

I have both the original K-Line hardback book and the Greenberg paperback version of Guide to Servicing Lionel Trains.  The K-Line book is easier to read as the printing is a bit larger and the fact that it is hard bound makes viewing the many diagrams a pleasure as it will lay flat.

Other than those references type in your particular question on Youtube.  There are many enthusiasts that like to give their versions of repairing trains.   

Highly recommend the manuals by jwtrains.com. they are easy to follow step by step guides on how to dissasemble and reassemble engines.   

The other part is simply practice.  I have a number of books, but I found out the best way to learn a lot of this stuff is by simply doing it.

Correct on the practice. I came across a collection of postwars that included about twenty engines and every accessory made in the 1950s.  The engines were a little tough but most of the accessories are only two and three wire systems that only need a little cleaning and lubrication.

   I take the "fix what's broken when it breaks with whatever's handy" approach mostly. I prefer nuts and bolts to rivets.  If it isn't factory, it can usually be reversed 99% of the time anyhow.

  I don't like to rely too heavily on manuals because it's not always "best", current, or even 100% way to correct things all the time IMExp.  I digress to collectors points of view, but I'm an operator more than a purest.

  The way I see it, there are only two ways to reverse an open frame motor. by brush or field swap. The rest, the e unit, is slightly more varible, a puzzle, but still limited to two types, and those limited in variations to be used. The rest is mostly common sense logic &/or mechanical in nature.

   Basically, I did this stuff as a kid and have confidence enough to know it's not that hard, I'm smarter, and more skilled today too.  I'd save for some proper tools and wing "knowledge" by asking for advice on each issue. Without the wheel pullers, rivet sets, arbor press, etc. the manual looses impact except for parts id, and such.

  Setting things down neatly and taking pictures as you go can help tons with reassembly if that's your weakness.

  My weakness is the rocket launcher and Wells Fargo gunfighter car on the same train...      I did it all the time; two of my oldest, most favorite cars.

My lone Sunoco tanker is also humbled

Dennis Waldron has an on line write up, which is about as good as it gets for a general description.    

http://www.justtrains.com/Service/maint-main.asp

Beyond this there are equipment specific procedures, some found in service manual copies like the ones identified above.  Another good source is to use the search engine on this site. 

Adriatic posted:

 ...The way I see it, there are only two ways to reverse an open frame motor. by brush or field swap...

You can power the field with single direction DC(using a full wave bridge rectifier), in series with the armature, and then power the whole thing with DC. Then the motor will change direction with the polarity of the DC to the motor.

 Well, there is that too Rob, lol; though a bit off from a "stock" ac configuration.

I had never even considered a BR on the field to keep the polarity straight. 

   I kinda like being "wrong-ed" by Rob because you never know which sleeve the rabbit is comming out of, just sooner or later, one will appear  

Pingman posted:

As Rob said, Plummer's book is an excellent resource.

Also, YouTube can be a friend--replaced the belt on a 397 coal loader successfully after finding a very good video.

Great! I have that same belt to replace. Will check YouTube. Thanks.

Adriatic posted:

   I take the "fix what's broken when it breaks with whatever's handy" approach mostly. I prefer nuts and bolts to rivets.  If it isn't factory, it can usually be reversed 99% of the time anyhow.

  I don't like to rely too heavily on manuals because it's not always "best", current, or even 100% way to correct things all the time IMExp.  I digress to collectors points of view, but I'm an operator more than a purest.

  The way I see it, there are only two ways to reverse an open frame motor. by brush or field swap. The rest, the e unit, is slightly more varible, a puzzle, but still limited to two types, and those limited in variations to be used. The rest is mostly common sense logic &/or mechanical in nature.

   Basically, I did this stuff as a kid and have confidence enough to know it's not that hard, I'm smarter, and more skilled today too.  I'd save for some proper tools and wing "knowledge" by asking for advice on each issue. Without the wheel pullers, rivet sets, arbor press, etc. the manual looses impact except for parts id, and such.

  Setting things down neatly and taking pictures as you go can help tons with reassembly if that's your weakness.

  My weakness is the rocket launcher and Wells Fargo gunfighter car on the same train...      I did it all the time; two of my oldest, most favorite cars.

My lone Sunoco tanker is also humbled

I was too young as a kid to be much help to my dad when he was fixing stuff. Now I can take most of it on. Great idea about taking pictures for reassembly - will definitely take that advice.

Those tankers are all beaters, had on eBay for a couple bucks each. Love having strings of things as I'm a fan of long trains.