Lionel # 3656 operating cattle car

Cattle cars and pens have small foam pads under the vibrating floor.  These pads deteriorating is often the problem with these cars and platforms.  Lionel parts dealers usually have these or you can make some from foam rubber, might have to experiment with foam density.

Thanks that worked for the cattle yard, now for some reason the doors don't open, the plunger that opens the doors is not activating I guess. I also put new pads under the cars in case that was the issue with the doors.

I think there is a spring on the doors to close them, don't remember exactly, but check that spring.

If the plunger is not activating, check the pick--up shoes are getting power from the inner rails to the car.  Floor pads probably not relevant to the doors..

This accessory is famous for the need to fiddle with these issues. 

I also think the density of foam is different in the car and the corral, but of course cant remember which is which.

IMHO...you can’t beat the operating cattle car and corral...uh...uh...guess I should say...when they work as designed!!! 

Mine does, sometimes...it was a Christmas gift and I’ve had this one since the mid 50’s. No doubt about it...takes some tweaking to get the voltage setting just right. I also added a small rail on the track inside of the car to keep the cows from falling on the inside and even then...occasionally there is a stubborn bovine that doesn’t want to cooperate...lays down or tries to make a daring escape...

That accessory is loud and noisy...but that’s part of the fun...especially when reminding visitors that these were considered “state of the art” back 65 years ago...there were no electronics as we have today! Had some friends here just last Friday and it worked flawlessly...”good cows”!!! 

The cattle car is funner than the milk car

Cattle Car Fix

There was also an article written in maybe OGR or the forum about getting the set to work correctly. I saved it somewhere, but, don't know where right now. It involved the fact that the base needed to be loose and the best that I remember the fix involved surrounding the base with cork so it could vibrate but not take a hike.
Maybe someone else remembers the fix.

Thank you to everyone for their helpful comments. For me the key was to add new pads on the corral and the car under the ramps. As noted, it is a tempermental accessory but, the kids love it. Thanks to DKDKRD for his humorous comments. I may try the separate voltage idea. I am afraid that as commented it is just a tough accessory to keep inajustment. Not sure I will go to the trouble of inserting springs as replacement for the pads. Again thanks

Yes, maybe THE tempermental accessory of all time.

I'm actually getting ready to try the spring replacement idea for the cattle car.  Picked up an assortment of small springs and will give it a go soon.