My daughter -in-law gave me a nice old lionel train set that is very old. The engine only works in reverse. I wish I could couple the cars to my newer trains, but the couplings are different. So my choices seem to be 1) see if I can fix the engine or 2) change the couplers. The set even came with the original boxes. Which way should I go?
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Fix the engine the older one like you describe are purely mechanical and parts are available. Your directional issue could be the e-unit. Dont change the couplers, try to find some period cars to match.
post a photo so we all can see and better assess your issues (Hey you may have a GEM here)
Steve
This is a early lionel Scout from about 1948. I wouldn't try taking it apart, There are springs that fly everywhere when disassembled. Almost impossible to put back together. Maybe clean it up lube and hope for the best. good luck.
Thanks for your reply. I'll get a picture as soon as I figure out how to do that. 
Is there a way to find out what year this was made?
This is a early lionel Scout from about 1948. I wouldn't try taking it apart, There are springs that fly everywhere when disassembled. Almost impossible to put back together. Maybe clean it up lube and hope for the best. good luck.
Are there people who can repair these older engines?
This is a early lionel Scout from about 1948. I wouldn't try taking it apart, There are springs that fly everywhere when disassembled. Almost impossible to put back together. Maybe clean it up lube and hope for the best. good luck.
Are there people who can repair these older engines?
Where's Jim Barrett? Just kidding... I would think there are quite a few right here on the forum and hopefully someone will reply. It's not a high end engine and may cost you more than it's worth to get it fixed but...it's yours.
The engine is not worth the trouble to fix. You could find another engine that uses the same motor and swap it out. Lots of them around.
As for the couplers, Lionel's regular freight car coupler assembly will fit, just turn the scout truck around and add the new assembly. Lionel recommend cutting off the plastic part that hangs down. It was used for the simple uncouple track that came with those sets.
In order to completely overhaul a scout motor, it is helpful to have the Lionel service manual pages, a wheel puller, and a press to put the wheels back on when the time comes.
A complete overhaul may not be required. I suggest you read the materials I linked, and follow the procedures related to cleaning the stuff in the brush housing.
Lionel Scout cars have a unique couple that does not mate with other cars. Lionel sold 480 conversion couplers to allow the cars to be run with standard Lionel cars. Some folks turned the truck around so the scout coupler faced inwards, and attached the 480 conversion coupler. Other folks removed the scout coupler before installing the conversion.
You can convert one end of a single car, and use it as a transition car between coupler types, or you can convert them all.
There are a few different model conversion couples, but they all basically work the same way. Two of them are 480-25 and 480-32.
In order to completely overhaul a scout motor, it is helpful to have the Lionel service manual pages, a wheel puller, and a press to put the wheels back on when the time comes.
A complete overhaul may not be required. I suggest you read the materials I linked, and follow the procedures related to cleaning the stuff in the brush housing.
Lionel Scout cars have a unique couple that does not mate with other cars. Lionel sold 480 conversion couplers to allow the cars to be run with standard Lionel cars. Some folks turned the truck around so the scout coupler faced inwards, and attached the 480 conversion coupler. Other folks removed the scout coupler before installing the conversion.
You can convert one end of a single car, and use it as a transition car between coupler types, or you can convert them all.
There are a few different model conversion couples, but they all basically work the same way. Two of them are 480-25 and 480-32.
A workaround to allow printing is to open the document, rotate the view 90 degrees, hit 'Print Screen' on the keyboard, and paste it into a blank document, such as Word (or the Mac equivalent). Save the document, and then it can be printed. The image may not be full page, but you will be able to read it.
Larry
If you haven't already noticed, there is a lever on top of the boiler that locks the reversing mechanism in or out. A movable part of the motor field turns drums with electrical contacts to reverse the electrical connections for reversing. It does not have a traditional "e-unit" for reversing.
I've worked on a few different Scout locos. Once I had a Scout loco stuck in one direction of travel, regardless of the lever position. I got it to reverse direction by manually pushing the loco forward and/or reverse. Worth a try. If you can get it going forward, it may be best to 'lock' it to stay in forward.
If you aren't experienced in train repair, you don't want to start by disassembling an oddball Scout motor! You have to pull the wheels just to open the case, and the motor parts are tricky to reassemble. The early Scout motors have a poor reputation for durability. If you don't find an easy fix for it, you're better off to just find another loco that already runs.
The plastic Scout coupler can be carved down to mate with regular Lionel knuckle couplers. I've done it.
You guys are awesome. Now I have several suggestions. TrainLarry, my Mac doesn't have a "print screen." I miss my PC. It does have "command print" but it still won't let me print.
Anybody know when Lionel changed over to there current couplers?
when I was looking to get my Dad's 6110 fixed, I heard a lot of the same, " not worth bothering with",etc. Dad took it to Dean at Brausser's, and he worked his magic on it.I seem to remember hearing that Dean left the shop, but maybe they have another guy that can fix it.
The "current coupler" came out in 1946 and went through several iterations, mostly around how the uncoupling is accomplished and to make the coupler cheaper to manufacture. The Scout coupler was contemporary with the regular knuckle coupler. Who knows why Lionel did this, but they soon gave up on the unique Scout coupler and made all their starter set cars/locos with knuckle couplers that were compatible with the rest of their line.
when I was looking to get my Dad's 6110 fixed, I heard a lot of the same, " not worth bothering with",etc. Dad took it to Dean at Brausser's, and he worked his magic on it.I seem to remember hearing that Dean left the shop, but maybe they have another guy that can fix it.
great shop and one of the forum sponsors.
and as far as running the locomotive with your other cars, just pick up another cheap tender with the knuckle coupler.
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