Lionel 2018 repair

If you are handy and are willing to learn, you can overhaul your engine and tender yourself. Many on this forum never repaired any trains before and have successfully repaired their trains with help from forum members.

Look up your nearest Lionel dealer if you wish to have your trains serviced by an outside technician.

 

Larry

Malcom,

If, as you mention, that the insulation on the wire is cracked and or has come off, then send it out for repair!!!! 

You will see a lever protruding from the top of the locomotive:

This, Locomotive #2018, a 2-6-4 wheel arrangement, has a THREE position E-Unit and is probably in the Neutral/Stop position, causing the locomotive to buzz/hum, but not move. 

1-Move the lever;

2-Lay the locomotive on its side;

3-From a D.C. transformer just use about 3 volts and carefully touch the positive wire to the metal contact roller, which is between the wheels;

4-Touch the negative wire to a section of the locomotive body, for ground.

The wheels should spin, but if it still buzzes, or hums, but not move, then it is defective!!!!

The 3-Rail system has the two outer rails as ground/neutral and the center rail is the power bus rail.

http://www.tandem-associates.c...trains_2018_loco.htm

Ralph 

Larry is right, these are simple units, and it's quite possible for you to do the repair yourself.

 

There is a good possibility that the problem is in the E-Unit.  First rotate the armature to make sure nothing is jammed.  Look at the E-Unit drum and fingers.  If they look good try cleaning the drum with a Q-Tip.  Make sure each of the six fingers are touching the drum.  I hope this helps.
Ron

Hi Brother love.

 

I can get your 2018 running again for your grandson. It is probably nothing more than cleaning the motor & rebuilding the reverse unit. I doubt anything is really wrong other than what I have told you. I have a 2037 & a 637, which are the same as a 2018 & they are excellent runners. Just let me know & send an e-mail.