Lionel Erie Lackawanna SD-40 6-8458 drops to neutral when crossing 45 degree cross track

If this engine has a E-unit. Turn the E-unit off see how it does!! 

Chessie1971

Thanks for your response. I tried moving the e-unit lever. The engine did not move but the light came on and the whistle blew (loud), so I returned it to the F-N-R position. I thought I read that the e-unit might need to be turned off which is why I moved the lever. I  will try it again. Does the e-unit have to be in a certain segment (F-N-R) before turning it off to get the train to run? 

Never had this problem when we ran Marx tinplate on a figure 8 on O-27 track when I was a kid. I will let you know if the e-unit off works.

Thanks again. I was worried the engine had other issues.

Yes get it going foward then stop turn your e-unit off should be set in foward motion. I wanted to edit this don't turn power back on when you get it going foward or it will go into netural.

Works good if you get it moving forward and lift it off the track then move the e- unit lever over. If you stop the engine on the track the e-unit will cycle to neutral.

John: The 45 degree crossing should not be an issue for this engine. I suspect you have a wire broken from one of the engine's power pickup rollers to the e-unit itself. If you're handy with a multi-meter, see if you have continuity from one roller to the other. If not, you'll have to remove the shell and look for a broken wire-possibly at the e-unit itself.

D&H 65 - Looks like you nailed it. I pulled the shell and the wire going down into the truck was not connected. I pulled the pick-up out of the truck, but it looks like the pick-up is mounted in a non-removable plastic housing with an insulating tube that goes through the truck. Wire broke off down inside the plastic tube. I will try to do a make-shift repair to get it through the holiday, unless I can find a whole pick-up assembly with the plastic insulator housing. Not sure how the wire is attached inside the plastic tube? Thanks for your information. Everyone has been very helpful in the less than 24 hours I have been on board.

The wire is just soldered on and da piece of plastic tubing is put over it to insulate it.   I see it looks a lot like the pick up assembly to a GP type truck.  May have one in my parts stash...

Marty

Hello Martin, I did not realize that the insulating post was a separate piece from the rest of the insulator housing. If I can just pull that up I can re-solder the connection and should be back on track.

Thanks for the insight. John

Any up dates with the engine in question???

Marty

Marty,

Here is the update. I found that the wire coming from the pick-up was not connected. I was able to get a piece of tinned wire into the insulator in  a press fit connection. I could not get the insulator to come off, so I decided I would try to run with the press fit wire. The engine now runs perfectly with both motors and pick-up functioning well. The engine crosses the 45 degree crossing with no issues. The grand kids played with the set-up for hours. I had a bulb go out for the head light so I will be servicing that soon. I will see how my repair is holding up at that time. I am not sure that I want to disturb the temporary fix for a more complicated solder joint at this time. Thanks for all the help and suggestions that got the SD-40 on track again.