lionel 3656 Cattle car

New pads will make a difference, especially if yours are still the originals.  You were real close on carbon tetracloride it is C CL4.  In the ‘40s, ‘50s and ‘60s it was a very common solvent, that is until they discovered it was toxic and would destroy your liver and kidneys.  It was used to activate the glue on the old pads.  You will not need it; the new pads are all self-adhesive.

@Pat K posted:

I've got a nice clean cattle car with the Armour emblems.  The doors operate nicely when power is applied, but the vibration on the 3656 runway is just not there.  It just barely moves the cattle.  So how do I add some zip to this action.

If I purchase new adhesivewashers, would that help?  Or how can I diagnose it to get better play.  And can someone tell me why the repair manual says to dip these adhesive washers in carbon tetrachloride.  Carbon tet--- from high school chemistry is CH-4, if I remember correctly, but what the heck does that do?

Pat,

As you probably know, this can be one of Lionel's most frustrating accessories ever for smooth operation. There have been many threads here on the 3656 and if you use the Search feature should be able to find some good discussions on trouble shooting.

Good luck.

I replaced the washers with pieces of sewing felt glued on with something like contact or E6000 glue.

Charlid

Thanks all.  I hate to say this where is the Search located. I figure there is a way to do that but...  can’t find it

I found it