I have a Lionel 210 & 211, I've been using the 210 for parts.
The pick-up rollers shorted and melted the the plastic housing of the truck. I replaced the plastic truck but the collector and the rollers still get very hot. The train runs good in forward and reverse and I don't see any sparks or any indication of a short. The manual has the assembly connected with a screw and insulated washer, mine has a rivet with a spring. Any ideas of what is causing the roller assembly to overheat?????
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Excessive current caused by dirt will cause the collector and rollers to get hot.
Dirt is an insulator, and the electricity trying to get through the dirt will generate heat as it tries to get into the rollers.
Clean the rollers, all wheels of the loco, and the track with Naphtha.
Disassemble the motor and clean it with the Naphtha, and lightly lube it.
Lube the gears on the truck also.
Larry
Turn it into one of these. 
You should be playing with steam locomotives!
I would check all wiring and solder joints as any of those in poor condition beyond the pickups could cause excessive current draw. Using an OHM meter may be very telling...
I cleaned everything and it was still running a little hot so I changed the collector assembly. It seems to be running fine. I have new rollers but I can't figure out how to remove the pin???? Thanks for the help...Gene
Do not remove the pin. The pin is riveted at only one end. Bend the side of the arm away from the end of the pin that is not riveted to about 30 degrees. Then bend the other side just enough to give clearance to slide the roller off. Clean the pin, slide the new roller on, and unbend everything. When you are finished you should not be able to tell the roller was ever changed.
David Johnston posted:Do not remove the pin. The pin is riveted at only one end. Bend the side of the arm away from the end of the pin that is not riveted to about 30 degrees. Then bend the other side just enough to give clearance to slide the roller off. Clean the pin, slide the new roller on, and unbend everything. When you are finished you should not be able to tell the roller was ever changed.
Thanks....That works....are all rollers changed this way?
I can not think of any postwar rollers that are not made this way, but there could be some.
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