Lionel 3559 Dump Car

The weight of the empty bin returns itself to horizontal.  As long as all is free moving without the need for lubrication then you're good to go.

Bruce

Thanks, BRWebster!  Got it.  The bin sits slightly canted but I'm done!  The weight of the bin does the trick!  It took me over half an hour to figure out the plunger goes 'above' the pieces and of course at first I forgot to put the spring in!!  Oh well, still lots to learn, had never worked on one of those before.  

Curiosity had me tearing one apart last year, just to see what made it tick.  It actually needed nothing more than a good cleaning to make everything, coil couplers included, work like new.  I believe the slight cant levels out when loaded.  The mechanism depends on having the loaded bin balanced just right so that very little effort by the plunger triggers and tips the load.

They're neat little crossovers from the prewar era.

Bruce

I went thru the same thing when I did my 3559 Pennsydave. but it works fine now.

Gentlemen,

    Ya got to love these old 3559 Lionel Dump Car, keep them clean and lightly oiled and they work perfectly,  I put one of mine in the new Hallmark/Lionel Santa Express Consist hauling some Candy Canes.

PCRR/Dave