397 Lionel Coal Loader

Is the red bin snapping back evenly. Meaning is the right side and left side snapping back and forth at the same time? Sometimes they get out of adjustment and one side will snap back quicker than the other making the coal pile up on one side. You need to adjust the cam.  Of course make sure it's on a level surface first.

Mine seems to be more of a “coal spreader” than a “coal loader”...

I had this accessory as a child, and it never ran well. The bits of Lionel artificial coal would get stuck underneath the belt and foul up its operation. 

I am interested in seeing if someone has tips to share to improve the operation of your accessory.

By the way, I have had the 97 coal elevator on my layout as an adult for many years and it always runs great. Arnold

There were two conveyor belt arm styles. One was more open and one was more closed. They recommend using tape on the more open style arm to seal up holes that the coal could fall into and get it under the belt.

Train nut explained about the tape. 1 wrap of electrical tape around the conveyor arm assembly to close off the open space under-neigh. The coal piling up on one side is because the both cams are not striking the cam lobes on the tray simultaneously. This going to be a hard adjustment to make. The lobes are fastened with a rivet or brad. To move the slightly so they are struck at the same time is the key. The Lionel service manual told repair men to strike the lobe with a hammer to adjust. Don't do it now! The plastic that holds the lobes will shatter due to the plastic's age. No repair possible then.

The age of the plastic makes "tapping it sharpley" per the service manual problematic,  The service manual recommendation was to make it possible to fix the issue without dismantling the loader.  Just take the loader apart and turn the tray upside down.  Using a straight edge for a reference, grind one of the cam followers until both cam followers will strike their cams simultaneously.

Don

Thanks for the responses.  I am not able to tell if both sides of the bin are hitting at the same time, I think they are...

I actually tried two different bins, the original without cast metals pieces connected to the bin (layered metal) and a later one with cast metal pieces, both seem to have the same issue of moving coal to the same side.  Would one expect both bins to behave the same?

The side the coal is moving to, is that the side hitting first or last (I assume last).  I could dremel the bin metal pieces a little bit on the suspect side?

Is one of the cams really worn?  I presume they are on the shaft correctly.  Per the service manual you were supposed to tap the cam follower to the rear "on the opposite (side) to where the piling occurs".

What you read is correct. Slightly grind the 'high' side. Don't try to tap. The tray wiggles from left to right, or opposite. What carefully and the side that hits the cam follower first is the one you want to take down a little to match the other side.

My tray has little action...I presume it is to vibrate and tilt back? It does not tilt to the back thus coal does not get to the appropriate spot to get on the conveyor belt. What adjustments do I need to make please?

Sorry wrong coal loader.

Yes, it just vibrates and the idea is the ridges + the action vibrates the coal back. This tray does not "tilt".

hmmmm....then I guess the spring-loaded red platform with ridges is simply for the operator to tilt the coal towards the back

as per the image on the right?

Have one just for fun. Recommend the #497 for a coal accessory that works great.