Changing the light bulbs in Lionel 9510 and 9507 Passenger Cars

If you look closely at the windows, you will see 2 retaining tabs on each side. These must be pushed in and a metal ruler slide in to hold. The roof and sides pull out together.

I personally use plastic rulers, but Chuck's technique is how it's done.  The instructions are a joke, they say press in on the four windows.  Without four hands, I have no idea how you do that!

George, if you can locate a copy of OGR Run 261, January 2013, there's a well-illustrated article on pages 66 through 69 on how to accomplish the exact task you're asking about.  The author inserted wooden toothpicks into the upper corners of the windows with the retaining tabs, gently spreading the sides of the car outward (rather than trying to push the thick tabs inward).  Once the sides of the car are just barely clear of the window tabs, grasp the edge of the roof and pull up.

Good find.  George, as a digital subscriber - you can view it online. (in case you didn't already know that)

Brendan

I've used coffee stirrers.

Makes a good case to convert to LEDs, if its a hassle to open.

George:

Attached is a pdf file with the Lionel instructions for removing the roof plus a parts diagram and a parts list for the 9500 series passenger cars.

Bill

I forgot to mention, some of the early Milwaukee cars also have tabs on the bottom of the car that need to be sliced off. The white tabs can be seen from under the car.

This video by member @KOOLjock1 might be helpful.

If only it was that easy! ^^. LOL!  You can do what Kooljock does after the first couple of times. The first time the plastic is just too stiff for your fingers to press in. At least that's been my experiences.

It’s also possible that older cars are getting less flexible with time.

Jon

Jon, that technique, in a word, doesn't work with a lot of these cars!  I agree, on some of them the roof pops off pretty easily, on others, it's a bear to get them off!  I only wish it were that easy all the time.