Lionel 2046 not working.

might just be a broken wire. pull the shell and have a look. 

A good thorough service is probably in order. This would include cleaning wheels, pickups, armature, evaluating/replacing brushes & brush springs, lubrication, and possibly replacing/repairing some wiring. In addition, the e-unit may need to be serviced or rebuilt with a new drum and finger set.

Some exploded diagram help:

http://olsenstoy.com/cd/LOCOS/DEB2046A.pdf

http://olsenstoy.com/cd/LOCOS/DEB2046B.pdf

I agree.

These PW locos are not complex, are easy to work on and very durable. I suspect you'll have it running again in no time. 

Mark in Oregon

Thanks! I will take a look although I'm not the best at repairs. 

we all had to learn!

Sounds like it needs new brushes. 

not a difficult locomotive to remove the shell. If you are uncomfortable with the internals, post up some close up pics once you get the shell off and all of us might be able to pick out the problem. close up pics are key. especially the wiring, where the motor brushes are, and the reversing unit. …………………….Pat

southern Railfan posted:

Thanks! I will take a look although I'm not the best at repairs. 

I agree with the comments above too. A good cleaning, lubrication, and oiling should get it running like a champion. If the loco still sits there with headlamp lit, motor humming,  but no movement, then the E-Unit is a likely suspect. There is a great YouTube showing how to restore an E-Unit:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3cHF_a6CNM

Until you get used to doing M&R on your locomotives you can help yourself a bit:  Take photos with your cell phone of each step you take to dismantle the 2046. This will give you confidence and guide you to reassemble it. Keep all screws and parts in a small container. Some guys have a magnet on their work bench where screws are put for safe keeping. Little screws and parts have a way of disappearing on the work bench. I think they go to the same place single socks go when you do a laundry.

what the all said!!

9 times out of ten a good cleaning of all moving parts including commutator face and new brushes.

oil and lube and she will take off like a shot

Strummer posted:

I agree.

These PW locos are not complex, are easy to work on and very durable. I suspect you'll have it running again in no time. 

Mark in Oregon

I agree with Strummer -- unlike most of the modern Lionel products, Postwar locomotives are generally simple, straightforward and very easy to maintain.  I make a point of opening all of mine up once a year, cleaning wheels and rollers and making sure there is lube where it needs to be.  If they haven't been run in a long time, I afterward send them around the layout for fifteen minutes or so, to make sure everything's all right.  I have never had to do any real routine maintenance work beyond that.  I sometimes clean the commutator, but I've never had to replace brushes in any of my locomotives.  And I've never had to do any e-unit maintenance more complex than squirting some contact cleaner (the non-lubricating kind) on the drum.

To the OP: In case you aren't sure what some of the above terms mean (I can't really gauge your experience level from your post), just visit lots of toy-train websites and look around.  Sooner or later, you'll find out all you need to know about "commutators," "e-units" and the like.  Trust me, after the first time you do routine maintenance, things start to get a lot easier.

--John

One more thing, Railfan...the newest repair guy buys the coffee.

southern Railfan posted:

Thanks! I will take a look although I'm not the best at repairs. 

Jim Barrets in the backshop video #9.

Joe Gozzo

Southern Railfan,

by coincidence I am doing preventive maintenance and repairs to a 2046 now for a friend.  I have it totally opened-up now and can respond to any questions wire for wire or other items.

Carl J