Repair of #41 Lionel Army Switcher

Also I have Greenburg's post war maintenance manual, but it fails to show how to remove the brushplate/armature if need be.

You just remove the screws.   You may have to unsolder the wires, depending on how long they are, I can usually remove the brushplate without doing that.  One place to make sure you clean and lubricate is the lower motor bearing and gear box, it frequently gets overlooked.

Be especially careful when removing the brush plate.  If memory serves, there's a tiny (and I do mean tiny) ball bearing at the top of the armature shaft.  Be careful not to loose that little sucker!

Some of those little vertical motors do have them, I don't recall if the #41 has one.  Normally, if it does, there'll be a little screw to adjust the play in the armature.  If so, the ball bearing is probably there as well.

You adjust it by going down tight, then loosening it about 1/2 turn.  It should have a minimal up and down play, but not be tight.

I recently serviced a Navy switcher in this same class, the driven gear had worn to the point that the armature gear wouldn't move the loco. I had to pull the wheels, both of which must be pulled to properly center the new driven gear on the axle, tap the axle out of the gear, clean LOTS of brass shavings out of the frame, then reinstall everything carefully. After a complete cleaning, this little critter ran nicer than any I have heard in quite a while. Don't be afraid to tackle the job, although it is unlikely that this is the problem. Just be sure to grease the driven gear, as well as the armature gear.

Hi.

None of the post war motorized units that I have serviced over the years has a screw to adjust the play in the armature.  Just the tiny ball bearing that Allan mentioned.

Bob

Interesting, because I've seen the screw in several.  Perhaps I'm recalling larger pieces with the adjustment screw.  I haven't had a PW motorized one apart in some time.  The parts diagram for the #41 does show the bearing and no screw, so you're certainly right in this instance.

In addition to the suggestions above, sometimes its helpful to replace the bearing button at the bottom of the armature well. It is hard to see, but it's down there, pressed into the frame. It can be pushed out from the underside of the frame. It is part number 41-8 (reference #14).

I am not aware of any postwar Lionel piece with a setscrew in the brushplate.

If you have run across postwar locos with the setscrew, its almost certainly a field modification.

The first Modern Era reissue of these small locomotives, the 8264 Canadian Pacific snowplow does not have a set screw. I don't know when they were added.

Linked below is the service manual page on the 8264. Since these pages sometimes contain errors, I double checked one of mine.

This diagram is very close to the postwar model.  There weren't very many changes made for the CP plow. IMHO, the biggest change was the addition of a washer between the brushplate and the field mount stud (ref. 21). (The postwar loco doesn't need it) The bearing button is identified as 41-008 (ref 14) on these pages

http://www.lionel.com/media/se...ts/18264Complete.pdf

Finally had a chance tonight to service the army engine.  The brushes and motor segments were pretty dirty and the inner gear box needed to be re-greased.  She runs like new again!  Just wanted to say thanks for all the helpful tips.  Now to tackle some of those larger engines that I have!  It is good to know I now have a place where I can consult with the experts!