[mnp13]

I need some "quick and dirty" help with a cattle car and platform.

I have what looks like an all original platform. I cleaned it up, but didn't change anything on it. I'm currently at my parents house so have limited tools and no replacement parts.

The platform IS working, but not all that well. If I hold it down, and give it a lot of juice the cows move pretty well. But I'd like to do a little tuneup if possible. I have my Greenburg book, but of course, the setup instructions are not in there, though I have checked the posts and stuff.

Normally I'd putter with it until I got it going, but of course now I have time crunch. So... if you have any quick hints, I'd be very grateful!

I'll post a video in a couple minutes. I have to get it uploaded to YouTube.

THANKS!!

 

[mnp13]

Ok, what's the secret to getting the track in the right place on the platform?? I have the proper power blade for O27 track, and the platform is at the correct height for O27 (the top slot.) But I can't seem to get the track down into the correct spot.

 

[mnp13]

Direct powered from 1033 Multicontrol Transformer, full power, 11 volts

It obviously works better when held down to the table, and then when I push on the rubber washer a little.

Anything else I can do to get it to behave a little better?

And I can't get the track into the groove....

 

[rkenney]

Do all of the cattle still have the little 'fingers' on their base?

 

[mnp13]

Most of the fingers are there. Some are a little more worn than others.

The car gets it's power from the track, correct?

 

[rkenney]

The car gets it's power from the track, correct?

Correct

Is the floor of the corral bright and shiny or tarnished looking?

 

[mnp13]

The car isn't doing anything, we're trying to figure out that problem right now.

 

[rkenney]

you can see from the diagram BOTH the car and the platform (corral) get their power from the track.

Most layouts I see just isolate two sections of track and the platform and car become their own isolated display (separately powered)>

My question had to do with the olatform floor, is it bright and shiny so the cattle slide easily on those little base fingers OR is it tarnished and discolored which makes the cattle bind and then needs more voltage to get any action.

Once you get the floor clean (wax doesn't hurt) the vibration is all a result of the ramp fingers contacting the platform floor. All you can do is adjust the ramp contact to achieve optimum results.

On both the old and new (49, 50-55) models if the mounting bushings are hard as a rock this will prevent good vibration. (you have the older model - 4 rubber bushings on the sides of the corral floor).

 

[mnp13]

Yes, the platform floor has been cleaned and polished, as you can see in the video... well, I hope you can see it!

The car is not getting any power. Well, it's getting power, but it's not doing anything with that power. That's the next thing we're going to trouble shoot, it's covered in the book, so hopefully we can figure it out. if not, we'll just let the cows vibrate onto a flatbed car... not idea, but better than nothing!

Thanks very much for the help! I finally got the track on the platform!

 

[servoguy]

You can power the cattle pen from the track or from the transformer directly. There are two terminals on the cattle pen. One is ground (outside rail), and the other is power which can come directly from the transformer through a switch, or you can use the transformer to turn the power on and off.

If you have not replaced the rubber mounts for the pen and car, you are not going to get much action.

The car gets its power from the cattle pen. There are two blades that contact the shoes on the car. The track should remain unpowered when you operate the cattle car.

Make sure the blades contact the shoes on the car. Check for continuity between the two shoes. Check that one of the blades has power on it. The other blade is ground (outside rail).