Lionel 6-29345 Auto Carrier Broken

The best I can come up with, short of buying replacement parts, is to glue the broken parts back on as stationary instead of moving and maybe use some quick setting JB Weld on the coupler if it is broken.  

Lionel told me they had to replacement parts...not even the couplers. The coupler sheared off right on the joint that holds it to the self adjusting mechanism 

I don't understand why Lionel's warranty would cover the failure of your shelving.

I am not saying that. 
What I am saying is that I just want the car to be fixed. Even if I have to pay some money I would like it to be repaired. 
Im not saying Lionel should fix it because of an accident in my house. 

"...it should still be covered by their warrenty...but they could do nothing...''

that's what it sounds like to me....

"I just came in the house today to find that a shelf collapsed in a room that had my Lionel Santa Fe scale auto rack on it...to make it worse...the shelf landed on it...the doors on one end are broken off, one of the couplers sheared off, and 4 of the side panel have broken...to make matters worse...I called Lionel and was told they could do nothing for me because it was an "older run"....I really feel like i was blown off by them...

I just bought this car this year...I haven't even had it 6 months....it should still be covered by their warrenty...but they could do nothing...

So I need to know what to do. I really love this car and I can't afford to throw it away...I spent $100 bucks on it plus shipping..."

Perhaps that's not what you meant, but that's what you wrote.

I posted on here to try to get some advice on how I could get this car fixed...not to have the post taken apart piece by piece. 
I said "it should still be covered, but they could do nothing" meaning that i can not get Lionel to repair the car. Be it by a warrenty or paying for service. So I posted it on here to advice on what I can do to get the car fixed, either by finding parts or whatever. 

Stirling don't mind the above, that's what you get here on the forum sometimes...

Lionel does this to customers and you have to be smart about it.

Call the parts department... ask to be transferred there. Talk to a specific person and get their name. Say you really need part no. xxx.xxx (research the pn before you call, via their parts list) . If they say they are not in stock then offer to purchase a "parts car assembly". If its still not available give them your name, number and email and they will contact you when they are.

Last step is to call Mike Reagan. He make things happen in a flash.

Sorry about the falling shelf.

Originally posted by Stirling R.Callahan:

the doors on one end are broken off, one of the couplers sheared off, and 4 of the side panel have broken...to make matters worse...I called Lionel and was told they could do nothing for me because it was an "older run"....I really feel like i was blown off by them...

Well I went on the Lionel Website and found their parts dept. While the Santa Fe Auto Carrier is not listed, others are. Parts are the same except when it comes to the body and door parts. So your couplers, trucks and springs are there. The doors and painted body are not.  Do you have a picture of BOTH the broken parts as well as all the sides of the damaged car to see what parts you need to get the car rolling? 

Personally, I think your best bet is to look for a new one.

If that was your car with that much damage, your insurance company would total it.

Thanks good sir. I'm looking into the parts right now. 

If you can get the doors back in the end, just glue them in and leave them shut (not like they ever made the autos to go in them anyways). Someone figured out how to mount a kadee on these things, which means someone took the kinematic coupler off the car. Post a WTB for the coupler, I bet you find one.

Sort of surprised that the car still can be within warranty and they have no parts, but I guess if someone actually got a defective one, they'd just refund you. They've done that to me on more than one occasion when there wasnt parts to fix the issue, but I'd have no expectation that they'll warranty a dropped car.

Sometimes in the heat of getting the product to the customer. Part donors are not kept and most all products are sent out for sale. Another run will be made and part donor cars are received from this batch.

I am still looking for a Lionel Heavyweight observation car rear railing... I was told to make if from scratch while I wait.... . Lionel  does this... you just have to be smart and keep checking back....

Im uploading pictures now. 

Glue the doors back on and replace the coupler. I have a bunch of auto racks and have yet to fine a need to open the end doors on any of them

Okay. 
Here are some photos of the car now. 
I managed to get the door that was not damaged back on. 
It looks like all I need to do to reinstall the other is to replace a bracket which is screwed on. 
As for the couplers, here are photos of the bottom. 

Sorry, Stirling, it was not my intention to be a grammar cop.

If all is lost, there's always this modeling opportunity...

Does this mean that your no longer holding out for the long ago promised Lionel automobiles to go inside?

OK well this doesn't look bad at all!

https://www.lionelsupport.com/...1f-9631-7813d13833d5

IT appears that you will need part # 16

and a lower LH hinge

I wouldn't wory too much on the hinge color since many would not see it. I used the Conrail rack for the parts since the color is close. check to make sure you have all the screws and the other door hinges do NOT have fractures in them and you should be good to go.

Not the car number listed, but it is a like painted BNSF from the CSX auto rack set. https://www.lionelsupport.com/...71-a854-f21bc7be086a

Not sure about door replacements but coupler pieces and door hinges are available it seems. 

Well it looks like there's one hitch....the pin for the coupler which I need looks to be out of stock.

I have a bunch of couplers left over from Kadee conversions on these. If you want one just send me a self-addressed stamped envelope or small box to mail it to you. Shoot me an email for my home address.

RM

assuming there is one good coupler on and you get the doors on ,can you run it as the last car on the train,at least for now? i mean there has to be a last car somewhere.maybe put an mikes eot marker on it.the guys that are 2 railing these cars should have couplers for sale somewhere.-Jim

Try and get the parts.If you can and can't find anybody to do the work,send it to me and I will fix it for free.My e mail is in my profile.Good luck.Nick

Looks like you could either drill out the mounting pin and replace with screw/spacer, or JB weld it back.  That JB Weld is STRONG stuff!

But look into the others parts suggestion first as my way is just rigging it back together and wouldn't have that "Mint Car" look/feel.    

It won't ever again have a "mint car" feel because it has been dropped, slammed and broken. (Eh, who hasn't...?)

This happens to the real thing, as we all know. Also, it's terrible to find one of your babies has been shot down. But, things like "pins" can usually be made from common items. Unless you plan to sell it, what it looks like "underneath" shouldn't matter, I would think.

The real ones are certainly not "minty".

Looks like it could become a parts donor!

Rather than replace the car, I would put that $100 bucks towards better/improved shelving so this doesn't happen again.  Frankly, assuming the shelf was occupied by more than just this one car, you should consider yourself lucky if this is the worst damage.  I can't imagine what would happen if my shelves collapsed!