[Dave Sams]

I'm trying to install my Bronx Zoo Car.

As you can see, both the loco and the actuator hit the ramp.

WhatamIdoingwrong?


Thanks


(gee I wish I had painted my plywood green....15+ years ago)

 

[tjcruiser]

Hmmm ...

Might you be able to extend the actuator cam with a small tube, and then move the ramp a corresponding amount further outboard?

TJ

 

[erkenbrand]

TJ always has the best suggestions.

You're not doing anything wrong. You just happen to have an engine with steps that stick out as far your actuator. Just move the ramp out until it clears the engine, then extend your actuator to match.

 

[T-Man]

I would use O scale track. It's higher. They do have springs to move when they have too.
A couple of seconds with a dremel would fix the lower step. The engineer would need a stool.

 

[gunrunnerjohn]

O31 track has less of an issue with this accessory, but it would probably hit anyway for those steps.

 

[Dave Sams]

Ah ha! You've given me some ideas.

I can usually figure things out, but why go down a road if someone else has been there?

I wanted to eliminate operator error first!

When I solve it, I'll post my solution.

 

[gunrunnerjohn]

Extending the cam too much may start catching on switches and other trackside stuff.

 

[T-Man]

The Lionel World is never a perfect fit. If you use one thing, another thing will not work. I have steamers with rods that bang into them. There is always something. If you have a decoupler track, a Marx engine may not get over it , just another quick example. Thirty seconds witha Dremel and that engine will not be a problem, ever again. How badly do you want that engine to work with this car. I think we are about to find out. WHirrrrrrrrrrrrrl.

You could place a doughnut on the car and then lower or cut the rail or make one. That is an option that will save the engine.

 

[gunrunnerjohn]

I have several locomotives that won't make it over most decouplers, the pickups on many of the new small operating units don't have the vertical travel to allow any irregularity in the pickup rails.

 

[Dave Sams]

You could place a doughnut on the car and then lower or cut the rail or make one. That is an option that will save the engine.

A what? Wouldn't that ruin my breakfast??

I don't know what you mean.

I have 5 locos with the same step. I'll fix the car.

 

[gunrunnerjohn]

I believe he's talking about putting a larger diameter sleeve on the car and cutting down the actuating rail so it doesn't hit the steps. That leaves the locomotives untouched.

 

[T-Man]

Thank you for the translation, John. I drew this up. A craft store has wooden thread spindles. A small one with a 1/4 hole should work.

Whatever you add on with the spindle,you remove from the bar.

 

[NIMT]

#1
Raise the tracks to clear the step of the engine.
If the actuator is not electrical then add a piece of tubing to make the actuator bigger.
If it is electrical then add some brass pipes over the connection to make it larger.
#2
Move the bar away from the rails to clear the steps on the engine then add a piece to the actuator extending it out to allow activation.

 

[gunrunnerjohn]

Redesign the car to use magnets.

 

[T-Man]

I think he has 027track he will gain 3/16ths clearance with O gage.

A good earth magnet underneath? Yeah! OOOOOO Yeah!

 

[Dave Sams]

So many things to try.

Looking at my own picture, I think I'm going to shim up the track. I'm hoping the ramp was designed to move when the loco hits it, but not when the acutator hits it.

If I'm living right, it should be an easy fix. If not, I'll fiddle.

I agree, Lionel is not a perfect world. It is a shame. You have to be a mechanic to have anything more than a basic layout. Sometimes, that is part fo the fun for me.

Last night, my 356 Freight Station worked perfectly. In fact, better than the 2 on You Tube. The night before, it didn't work worth a darn. I suspect the temperature in my room made the difference. It was warmer last night as we had our heating system on.

Thanks for all the suggestions. I'll report back.

 

[gunrunnerjohn]

Truthfully, I get a kick out of tinkering with trains, doing my TMCC conversions and the like are a big part of the fun.

 

[Dave Sams]

Well, I don't know, but it looks like my issue is resolved, for now.

I decided to move the actuator to the other side of the track so I could get a better look at what is going on.

Now, the loco does not hit!

I looked closely at all of the attachment points etc etc and can not find where it is or was hanging up.

At this point, I'm thinking.....problem solved but don't ask me too many questions.

Rather than take the time to determine just what went wrong, I think I'll go to a train show, or rake leaves, or not.

 

[Big Ed]

The first picture you took of the engine hitting, it almost looks like the wheels are not positioned on the rails right.
The front of the engine looks like it is sitting crooked?

Now it still looks real close.
In the new picture you posted, the one wheel looks off the track, on the giraffe car?

 

[Dave Sams]

I think I have it.

The car and acutator were bought an an auction.

I suspect the "item" is a marriage. That is, all the "correct" parts were assembled and sold as a complete accessory.

The 2 pieces of the actuator do not fit together properly.

There is a tab on the actuator which is supposed to slide into a tunnel on the base.
I doesn't fit properly.

Also, notice there is a foot on the actuator which hits a slider on the base. It doesn't look right.

I'm sure if the tab and foot were seated in their proper places, there would be even more clearance.