Just purchased a Seaboard 601 switcher from a estate sale. Runs grudgingly by itself. Spins its wheels and goes nowhere with a few cars attached. I suspect the problem lies in the attached picture of the pick-up roller. Comments, suggestions, remedies?
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The pickup roller is obviously contorted and probably causing excess drag. It may or may not be the totality of your issues, but the easiest at home remedy for the collector is to replace the 600-36 collector assembly as a whole. It is simply screwed on and has a singular solder joint to transfer.
Just my .02
Anything I buy gets completely torn down, wires checked, cleaned, greased, lubed and new brushes & springs as needed. Even a box car. Any parts that appear damaged are replaced, such as the pickup roller assembly on your engine as an example.
The other thing I would look for is if that pickup roller assembly or something else is lifting the wheels slightly. I have the #623 and these are not exactly light. Your engine also has dual axle magnetraction. The only way those wheels are going to slip with a couple cars is if they are not fully down on the track.
Mine is currently pulling 8 post war cars with no issues.
Hope this helps!
Personally I never was fond of this series of diesels that were a downgrade from the 622,623,624 series. Sounds like a good cleaning and lube job may help this engine get in the mood to pull a few cars.
It appears from the photo that the power roller is on the non-powered truck, so if the roller's spring tension is too strong, rather than lift the power truck, it would have the tendency to do just the opposite: it would leverage the power truck downward, creating more tractive effort.
I would do a bit more scientific investigation, first: under load, do the wheels spin freely? Does the motor operate properly when the locomotive is placed on its side? Etc.
@Grampstrains posted:The biggest problem? That engine only has one Magna-traction axle.
And since it does have Magnatraction........what kind of track are you using ? 🤔
@Grampstrains posted:The biggest problem? That engine only has one Magna-traction axle.
FYI........according to the repair manual and Tandem the 601 has dual axle magnatraction.
I don’t have any of the stamped framed NW2s so don’t know how many cars they can pull but the magnetic axle engines were never great pullers including the 622s. I would first try degreasing the wheels on the power truck and then add some weight inside the engine.
Pete
@TrainManMike posted:FYI........according to the repair manual and Tandem the 601 has dual axle magnatraction.
@Grampstrains posted:The biggest problem? That engine only has one Magna-traction axle.
According to the pictures, there is only one MagneTraction axle.
@Grampstrains posted:The biggest problem? That engine only has one Magna-traction axle.
I didn't see that. Weird, both Tandem and my repair manual both state the 601 has dual axle.
@TrainManMike posted:I didn't see that. Weird, both Tandem and my repair manual both state the 601 has dual axle.
Very easy to switch a shell or power truck or whatnot over the years...
@TrainManMike posted:I didn't see that. Weird, both Tandem and my repair manual both state the 601 has dual axle.
@bmoran4 posted:Very easy to switch a shell or power truck or whatnot over the years...
Oh yes, these may have very easily been switched around over 65 years, and, this may be an indication of the problem. Even my 634 with one axle / one tire drive can pull quite well.
I suspect that the motor truck is not installed right to provide the right ride for the chassis. I've seen some pretty funky combinations.
@ADCX Rob posted:Oh yes, these may have very easily been switched around over 65 years, and, this may be an indication of the problem. Even my 634 with one axle / one tire drive can pull quite well.
I suspect that the motor truck is not installed right to provide the right ride for the chassis. I've seen some pretty funky combinations.
Ok, that makes sense. I thought I was going crazy. lol. Everything I referenced was showing dual axle magnatraction for the 601.
Those motors had a tendency of loosening up at the "stakes" of the motor. These would loosen up causing the sides of the motor to move and bind up the axles. This would cause the motor to work harder and not run very well. I had to pull the motor out and repunch the stakes to tighten them up. You have to remove the side frames and pull the front axle out to get at the front stakes, the back one is easy to get at.
Others have shimmed them to tighten them up. I haven't try that one
@ADCX Rob posted:Oh yes, these may have very easily been switched around over 65 years, and, this may be an indication of the problem. Even my 634 with one axle / one tire drive can pull quite well.
I suspect that the motor truck is not installed right to provide the right ride for the chassis. I've seen some pretty funky combinations.@ADCX Rob posted:Oh yes, these may have very easily been switched around over 65 years, and, this may be an indication of the problem. Even my 634 with one axle / one tire drive can pull quite well.
I suspect that the motor truck is not installed right to provide the right ride for the chassis. I've seen some pretty funky combinations.
In addition to the magnetraction, note that the OP chassis is missing the fuel tank. That chassis came under the 600 MKT and 610 Erie in 1955. The 601 Seaboard came out in 1956, and the 1956 chassis has the fuel tank and a horn. The 600 and 610 didn’t have a horn. So was the shell switched at some point, or did Lionel have extra 1955 chassis laying around to use up for early 1956 production? Over the years I’ve observed similar 1955 chassis under a 601 shell, so I’ve often wondered if this could’ve been something “legit” that Lionel really did.
Trainman Mike and all you other helpful folks. Haven't had a chance to strip it and review. Just did a superficial view. Ran it and found the motor slippage issue and the pick up roller issue. I have several Lionel switchers, including the 610 Erie, which I love. This unit appears to be identical. The shell probably was switched since it has the slot on top for the F-N-R manual switch (not an E-Unit) that exists on the DT&I 8111. It does have dual magnatraction. I will replace the pickup roller unit. Inspect, clean and lube, look for loose mechanicals and electricals and go from there. Thanks all for your advice and counsel.
@Dennis Rosenthal posted:It does have dual magnatraction...
Not the one in your picture.
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