................ The Nuclear Reactor is another story however, but one which ended in a very fair settlement between myself and the seller. Basically, the motor spins but the arm does not move. I've had it apart and cannot seem to figure out why, as the gears all seem fine and mesh properly. There is a tiny PCB in the motor compartment. I cut the two wires coming from the binding posts that power the motor and tested them with AC & DC power. The motor seems to spin on DC, so I imagine the PCB converts the AC transformer power to DC.
Anyway, I may just try and experiment with this accessory as it wound up costing me next to nothing.
Did that big bag of coal actually come with the reactor? Seller made a goof if so. The small metal balls and glow in the dark pellets are correct here . I don't think the reactor could process the stuff in that bag.
I assume re: the arm not moving, you have the clutch (lever on the "roof") in the right position? One way is for the crank to manually move the arm , the other way engages the motor to do so. I assume since you said you've had it apart this was investigated, in which case I probably can't further help.
I will say I damaged one of these a long time ago when I forced that clutch, though, so it does need care. I think I screwed up a gear that is not available separately unless you buy the big motor assembly from Lionel (~ $70 IIRC). I bought a less than new (but really nice) reactor at a York meet for only a little more than that one year. I later bought the motor assembly during one of the Lionel 1/2 off parts sales in November.
-Dave