A Question For Mike Reagan...

Jon I had to send my new unloader in due to an electronics issue. That came back fixed but the magnet was now out of alignment w the swinging doors causing the culvert to twist 90 at the top of the ramp. Lionel tech suggested bending the two orange uprights slightly to correct it but the supports didn't seem to have much give and I didn't want to snap anything. Looking at the gray motor housing, I saw that it wasn't hanging level on the rail and it had lots of play so I shimmed one end with a strip of styrene and that corrected the alignment. I can snap a pic for you

Please do Graz!

 

Jon

will do this evening when I get home.

Jon,

Not Mike R, but...

I have the latest release in Bethlehem Steel deco.  It has adjustment screws, on the beam, for the switches.

That got me thinking...maybe you could purchase the new beam and screws.  So, I looked up the parts and Lionel lists the beam for $5 and the screws are $0.30 each.  If need be, the cherry switches are $3.50 each.

Interesting!

 

Jon

the issue w mine wasn't the travel distance along the rail, it was the fact that the magnet and culvert weren't hitting center on the two swinging doors so as the magnet changed direction and drops the culvert, one door would catch more of the culvert and swing it 90.

EXACTLY!  Let's see your solution!

 

Jon

 

Jon,

Here's a couple of pics showing what I did. I used two small pieces of cardboard glued together and then glued to the motor housing.. The basic idea is to create a shim that goes between the two components of the motor housing. This shim causes the magnet assembly to hit the doors on center. 

Let me know if this isn't very clear.

Mike

Actually I had the same issue and all you have to do is twist the horizontal beam a little so the culvert is centered on the door.  No shims or anything needed.  I gave it a little twist and worked perfect from then on.  I do this on 2 of them worked perfect.  The beam is thin and easily twisted.  

I have had a couple of the unloaders brought to me for the same thing, the magnetic claw did not center with the doors. My solution is the beam is pretty flimsey and gets out of alignment easily. Simply twist the beam slightly to the left or right to re-align the claw with the doors. (I see Sand beat me to the same answer)