Question re: Chassis disassembly for Contact Roller Repair /Niagara 6-28069

The collector assembly is sandwiched between the roller assembly, and the upper insulator. There is a long screw that passes through all of these parts, and then there’s a nut on top. What I’m thinking is giving you a fit, is you’re trying to tighten the screw with the engine upside down, and pressing the screw downwards, it’s just all spinning and you’re accomplishing nothing. So as you begin to tighten the screw, slighty pick up on the roller assembly and turn the screwdriver. You should feel the roller assembly being sucked down to the base plate. Only word of caution, there’s a wire attached to the other side. If you’re successful in tightening the screw, be sure the wire hasn’t spun and is touching ground. You can do a simple test with a voltmeter to accomplish this.

Pat

Thank you Pat ( @harmonyards) for your sage advice. I tried the approach and had some initial success but when I placed the locomotive on the tracks the contact roller dropped down again.  I've ordered replacement parts (bolt, nut, roller assembly, and contact plate, etc) from Lionel. Thank you as well for the heads up regarding the soldered wire to the assembly inside the locomotive.

Though I dont hear anything to suggest that the nut is lose, I fear that may be the issue - and will require opening the locomotive for the repair.   Examining the underside of the locomotive - it is difficult at first pass to determine what might be the minimum number of components necessary to dissemble to access the interior of the contact assembly.

With much thanks to @bmoran4 and @gunrunnerjohn  - I was able to access the lionel product literature posted here    Curiously there is documentation for the 28070 (Atlantic) but nothing for the 28069 (Niagara).  Nonetheless, the Atlantic is a helpful reference.

If there were any other resource guides or videos for how best to modern-era Lionel steam locomotives, that would be extremely helpful as I approach this process with some trepidation.

With gratitude,
Scott

Assuming the nut hasn’t come off the screw, grabbing the collector with a needle nose pliers and pulling it towards the screw head might create enough friction on the nut to prevent its turning while spinning the screwdriver.

Pete

There’s no service procedures, no R&R guide, although it’d be nice. You just kinda have to know your way around these locomotives. You kinda jumped the gun ordering all new parts. I don’t think that’s necessary at this point yet. The top insulator has a hex pocket the nut sits in, and keeps it from spinning while tightening. Pretty sure the nut on your model hasn’t cinched down in the hex pocket and is still spinning on the inside and therefore you can’t get it locked down. This locomotive is formidable to take apart. My suggestion at this point would be to have this locomotive serviced by someone who’s well versed with this locomotive. They are not built in “traditional” modern methods, and more resemble a fine scale brass model. There are many layers to disassemble this engine.

Pat

Thank you both! I'm going to attempt the needle nose pliers approach and still have time to cancel the replacement parts if I'm successful.  I'll discuss with the local hobby shop what options might exist for any local repairs as well (there no service centers within 100 miles of my home).   

I had recently shipped my locomotive to Alex Malliae to replace the plastic drive shaft with a metal one and to upgrade the smoke unit. Alex was fantastic and I'd highly recommend him to others. That said, if possible,  I'd like to avoid shipping the locomotive again so as to avoid further possible wear and tear etc.

@Great Lakes RR posted:

Thank you both! I'm going to attempt the needle nose pliers approach and still have time to cancel the replacement parts if I'm successful.  I'll discuss with the local hobby shop what options might exist for any local repairs as well (there no service centers within 100 miles of my home).   

I had recently shipped my locomotive to Alex Malliae to replace the plastic drive shaft with a metal one and to upgrade the smoke unit. Alex was fantastic and I'd highly recommend him to others. That said, if possible,  I'd like to avoid shipping the locomotive again so as to avoid further possible wear and tear etc.

Alex is top shelf, no questions there, …if you’re unsuccessful in your approach, Alex is 100% capable of doing this repair for you,…….like I said earlier, there’s at least a gazillion screws to take out to access this locomotive…..I don’t think you can get at the nut on the inside just by removing the top shell, and removing the bottom plate won’t gain you much access as the wires will keep it pretty taught even after those gazillion screws are taken out….maybe Pete can elaborate more??..

Pat

I have not had the problem with a loose collector so haven’t paid close attention to the location of the nuts but for sure the bottom shell has to come off and that can be a chore. I can now take the top shell off in about 5 minutes but still have to fiddle a lot with the lower.

Pete