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Reply to "New Lionel 2026 Restoration"

Richie C  and others

I have been out the country on vacation when you discovered the broken nipple on the e unit drum.  I know you have replaced the e unit.  Below is my method of repairing an e unit with a missing nipple on the drum for others and saving the time and cost of buying a new e unit.

I have repaired the missing nipples on e units several times. My method does not require wedging open the e unit frame. 

I leave the drum in the e unit and drill a small hole, slightly smaller than the hole in the frame where the nipple went, in the drum where the nipple was.  I mark the center of the drum where the nipple was with an awl to center the hole.  I drill this through the hole in the frame where the nipple would have gone.  Then I find a small round headed wood screw maybe 1/4 to 3/8 inches long and screw it into the hole which should be slightly smaller than the screw diameter size.  The screw makes its own threads in the soft plastic of the drum.  Do not tighten the screw and allow it to let the drum rotate.

This fix is stronger and should last longer than plastic nipple of the original drum.  It may not work if the plastic of the original drum is aged and crumbling.  In that case the drum should be replaced.

Charlie

Last edited by Choo Choo Charlie

OGR Publishing, Inc., 1310 Eastside Centre Ct, Suite 6, Mountain Home, AR 72653
800-980-OGRR (6477)
www.ogaugerr.com

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