@David Johnston posted:Thanks Dennis, next time I have one apart I will try the spring. Being in California we are very limited as to the solvents we can get. I have gone to acetone for a residue free cleaner. But I have yo be careful where I use it as it will go after some resins.
Other places to watch are the ground return path. That bell on/off switch is in the ground path and can be a problem. On maybe half of the 227 switchers I work on there is a phos bronze strap between the back up light board mounting bracket and the frame. That strap goes across the top of the truck mounting pin, giving a direct ground path from the truck to the back up light board. That modification or running change always indicated to me that Lionel had trouble with grounding on these tenders. I have not seen this strap on any of the post war tenders where there is a ground wire to the engine.
David,
If you can't get the cleaner that I recommended, just ask and I'll get it for you.
As far as that phosphor bronze strap is concerned, I've found it on some late 227, 228 and 233 switchers. I do know that there was a service note that that strip was added to some 2203B tenders and was eliminated on later bell tenders when the 9T-16 ground washer was added.
