Rebuild it! Lionel 8769 cheapest MPC diesel switcher Republic Steel 

Thanks Brad. Wait until you see the LASER train set video that I have scheduled 2 weeks from now. Same engine (switcher) but a different motor/gear design that works so much better.

Thank you. It was rewarding to get something running that I never thought would run again.

Thanks! The home built bridge rectifier works great.

Thank you. I really like these little switchers.

- Genius is a bit much but I certainly appreciate it James

I wish it ran better. In 2 weeks the video for the LASER train will release. It has the same shell and frame but a different motor arrangement that while cheaper - works much, much better.

I have a similar story - learned about excess lube issues with slot cars lol.

Thanks!

Thank you

I was surprised with how easily that gear went on the shaft. I was expecting the replacement to crack

So true! Nice job getting the Weaver going.

@@TooManyHobbiesJeremy Ironically about a year later someone posted a set of those wheels with those gear on Ebay. I bought the batch. A few of them had the cracks as well. But before that I had bought another none running Weaver engine of the same type and era and took it apart for the wheels/gears and improved my double engine set a lot. Even then some of those were cracked as well, and I did not use them but it was sad because that engine was one with the improved flywheel motor, but I had a double PA engine set so having one with a fly wheel and one without would cause more issues. So I had an idea to get that Santa Fe working but using a motor system from another company. Then I found a deal for a complete frame and motors and trucks that was from a K-line F-3. That was a bust as well because when it came someone had removed the main secondary gear set that goes between the wheels and the center motor worm gear. A few months later I found a set made by Lionel and bought them but the outer gear was to many teeth and would not work unless modified a lot. Later a set of real K-line gears came up on E-bay and I was able to about count the teeth knowing what I had was too big I bought these and they were the right ones and worked well. I have not finished that project due to a grand house floor repair project in my kitchen. Then I decided after doing that to make the kitchen into a long train room on the one side. You will see that set up on my channel

Thank you. The diodes I picked were just ones I had lying around - 2A 400v. I would have rather used a small diode bridge for neatness. The incandescent bulbs are wired on the AC side so not to increase the load on the diodes. The voltage decreases on the output (DC side) of the diodes but it isn't very much at all. As long as hot glue is working for you - no need to change it. I'm sure it was way quicker than my method.

Thanks, very interesting

Thanks Steve. This engine is not a great runner -just wait until you see the LASER train video (scheduled for 3-22-24) - Same engine type but a different motor design on that one.

@TooManyHobbiesJeremy Is that the strange white train you showed us awhile back?

Yep, the LASER train has a CHROME plated engine and laser car. It looks great!

@@TooManyHobbiesJeremy Hilarious design.

I got it from the O gauge RR forum. ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/topic/does-anyone-have-a-zip-or-any-file-on-all-the-lionel-supplement-parts-list-and-exploded-diagram-from-1970-to-today