K-Line Log Dump Car Not Working-Update

I am having a similar problem with my K-Line Operating Boxcar, except mine worked for years and poof all the sudden it stopped, and is now totally unresponsive. I think the radio board may have gone kahflooey.

Not sure what to do, if you figure it out let me know.

I have the box car and milk car. Both had a loose lead on the activation switch in the little box under the car. The box has two screws and is easy to remove. I had to solder the wire to the switch. I don't know if this would effect the operation with the remote, but is easy to check. 

Miken posted:

I have the box car and milk car. Both had a loose lead on the activation switch in the little box under the car. The box has two screws and is easy to remove. I had to solder the wire to the switch. I don't know if this would effect the operation with the remote, but is easy to check. 

Thanks for the info Mike. I thought the car would be more complicated to open than just two screws, I'll open it tomorrow evening and report back with my findings!

So I finally got the car apart and here are my findings... First, the disassembly of the car is VERY complex. In order to access the box with the electronics inside I had to essentially remove every one of the many screws used to assemble the car! Now to the important part, after I gained access the electronics I whipped out my trusty multimeter and checked for any bad wiring or solder joints, everything there checked out okay and when I placed the car on the track with the components exposed I could see the motor was trying to work but would barely move more than a millimeter, even by hand. I assume the motor must either be defective or it just froze after years being stored in the box never being used... With that assumption I went ahead and ordered a new motor directly from Lionel, who surprisingly still has parts for K-Line's products! Hopefully I'm right and the car works without a hitch when I install the new motor!

Hope I didn't lead you astray.  The box car and the milk car are pretty easy to open.  I have had the milk car open a few times.  On my cars there is a little black box under the cars that hold the activation switch for use with the operating track.  That is were I found my wiring problem and it only took the removal of two screws to get to the switch.  Hopefully you get the issue squared away with new motor.  I do not own the log car.  Even though I am on the look out for more of these cars for my son's layout.  The remote operation is the best part of these things.

Miken posted:

Hope I didn't lead you astray.  The box car and the milk car are pretty easy to open.  I have had the milk car open a few times.  On my cars there is a little black box under the cars that hold the activation switch for use with the operating track.  That is were I found my wiring problem and it only took the removal of two screws to get to the switch.  Hopefully you get the issue squared away with new motor.  I do not own the log car.  Even though I am on the look out for more of these cars for my son's layout.  The remote operation is the best part of these things.

It was no problem Mike! I also have the milk car and have had to open it a few times when I accidentally lifted it with milk cans inside! These remote controlled cars are pretty neat, when they work of course haha.