#60 Trolley

I can take pics of mine. The black plastic piece that holds the pole on top of the roof should have a slot that the wire pole sits in and that keeps it in line. The black piece is keyed to the rotating shaft in the body and should turn about 180 when the slide reverse is moved.

NYC buffalo,

Thanks for input. In inspecting my trolley, I find the black piece that holds the pole to the shaft does no have a slot to position the pole?? It must be a replacement part?? I have another trolley in storage that I will drag out to see if it has the grove you described? Thanks again for your input, and I'm from Buffalo too allthough  I now live in Fla.

Paul

I did get out the 2nd trolley I own and it's "Black" piece holding the trolley pole did have the grove you mentioned. I exchanged it on the trolley.

 and reinserted the pole. It still has the same problem. The pole is loose enough that it does not rotate the 180 degrees the shaft and black piece does??

Paul

This issue has come up before.
I don't know whether the replacements are modern era parts that were redesigned or bad reproductions, but two different parts are out there.

Modern era Lionel has modified many parts for their reissues. Most times they've updated the part number, but not always.

Thanks for info. I have no idea what level my parts are however the pole spins freely and doesn't lock down so it turns the 180 degrees desired! I was wondering what makes the correct part work??

Paul

On at least some Postwar Lionel trolleys the end of the pole is upset. It's been a while since I looked at one, I think it was a diamond shape.  The trolley pole holder locks onto it.

The end of the pole for a #69 maintenance car is smooth. On that car, the friction fit of the sign is enough. It doesn't take much to turn the sign.

I'd have to look at Modern era ones to see what they did.

Put a tiny glob of clear silicone on the black piece. It will hold the wire and will not lessen the value of the trolley, because it can be removed easily.

Art,

I don't understand? Isn't silicone a lubricant??

Paul

C.W.,

That makes sence to me. Maybe, I'll try shaping the pole at the end??

Paul

That makes sence to me. Maybe, I'll try shaping the pole at the end??

I think it would be better to match the piece to the type of pole you have.
I believe that Arthur P Bloom meant Silicone cement.

C.W.

Thanks for the input. The end of the trolley pole that goes into the black bracket is perfectly round. It has no means of "locking" in place. I think I will try to flatten that end of the pole?

Paul

Yes, I meant silicone-based caulk.  It can be applied in globs. Silicone lubricant cannot.

I had similar confusion when I got mine.  This is how it should be installed.  No need to shape the pole or use silicone.

I'm almost there, but still wandering....

I want to see all parts disassembled now too. Lol.

I recall a few spring mounts on PW being ; slot head shaft (like a screws head, wire seated in the slot) , D shaft, and fixed key on the shaft. I recall a diamond bend on some poles at the bench(not all), and thought it keyed in a thin slot on the blk. spring, and a V depression in the shaft  I thought there was a short and long pole, and various loop revolutions too. There was one that the pole was a through shaft pin, but that might have been a repair or mod. There were really too many versions too recall with bashes, and those GM knock offs and battery op. trolleys too.

But there is no pw version I didn't have access too.....they are all fun...and I never had an issue with putting poles back on. Only a couple "threw" fits on occasion, usually at high speed. I think it was a D shaft and a fixed key.

  There were two or three bodies, two roofs,  different spring molds, different window shades and silhouettes, and routes, lettering, differnt bumpers, and diffrent shades of yellow to yellow/orange. Plus how many mechanical variations?

  I wonder what else even compares in its shear number of design changes over time. Plus, it just might be the best selling plastic aftermarket parts segment? Gee what a legacy.

I solved the problem thanks to the great photograph provided by bignike! I was trying to put the pole on backwards with regard to the black piece. When I put it on right, the problem was solved, no cement or shaping of the pole necessary. Thanks to all for your inputs!

Paul