HELP....#22975 Command Control Culvert Unloader / Magnet Unit goes down, but will not go UP !!!

Yeah, it failed to hit the limit switch. "The Motor is running", that's what controllers do when they are trying to reach a known limit point BEFORE the next action can happen. Typically, this is caused by old worn rubber tire and also the rail can be slightly bent or tweaked and that's why it's not hitting the limit switch.

There are 2 limits switches on the gantry at each end. It has to hit them before the next action happens.

There are 2 limit switches inside the winch housing one for full up, one for full down.

It almost looks like the string that pulls up the Magnet Unit is slipping on the Drum?!!

https://www.lionelsupport.com/...ADER-COMMAND-6-22975

The motor and gearbox drive this square drive. Point being, the limit switch is INSIDE this motor housing so it should hit that and stop. This is without the other half attached.

This is the separate winding drum that interfaces on the backside to the motor via that square drive.

Again, the problem is, you say the motor keeps running. Well that would indicate either the gearbox is broken and/or the limit switch is never getting hit.

Even IF the string was slipping on the winding drum, that is NOT how it determines the limit. The machine as a whole would still cycle.

I'm honestly sorry, we have long reached the point where when these fail, that is it, they go to the parts graveyard. Either you have a parts graveyard to rob from and fix this one, or it becomes someones parts for another day.

https://www.lionelsupport.com/...20BOX%20/%20LIFT%20/

When you see a parts listing or lack of - it's reached that end of life status.

Vernon

Sounds like you are very knowledgeable on this Unit!  Appreciate you sharing all your knowledge on it!  Will pull it off my Layout and take a good 👀 LOOK!  I will share anything I find with you!!

Again,

Thank you!!

Be sure the string is seated properly in the pulleys 

Will do that !!

Just trying to ensure you understand during troubleshooting. While the goal is eventually to care about what the string is doing, it's not primary and takes your attention away from the inherit problem. You say it cycled unit a point where the motor is still running and nothing is happening. That means that likely something is slipping in the gearbox. If it was just the limit switch, well it would mechanically stop the motor at some point if it did not sense it and electrically stop it.

Which is why I'm saying- you can basically remove the entire winding assembly and that also is what it rolls along the gantry. You end up with the motor with tire that moves the gantry left to right, and the gearbox that drives the winch. So, when you power it, you have to hit the Limit switch on the end of the gantry to stop that motor, and then it "thinks" it's in position for the next action. Then the winding drum motor spins one direction until it's internal limit switch, and then reverses direction, runs the same number of turns back up until the other internal limit switch is hit, then the motor for left to right on the gantry moves until you hit that limit switch at the gantry above the ramp. It's just keeps cycling. The string is the last thing we worry about, not the first. You work on that after you have it cycling 100% all endpoints and conditions.

@bob radaker posted:

Be sure the string is seated properly in the pulleys

This is what happened to me. Take the two small screws out and the cover plate comes off. You will see the guides and the string.

Mike Reagen did an informative video on the culvert loader/unloader limit switches for the trolley.  He did not provide instructions for the hoist limit switch or switches.  Here is a link if you fix your hoist issue but then need other adjustments.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9uhMEBkXJhc