Lionel Aquarium Cars

If it's one of the axle gear driven ones, they're not terribly reliable. Try putting a dab of plastic safe grease on the worm, see if that helps it grab the worm gear a little better.

If it is gear driven, make sure the axle with the gear is forward to the direction the car is traveling, this with take up the play between axle gear and driven gear while in motion.

 

Art

Although Lionel has not made a "track-geared" aquarium car for at least 5-6 years (all have been motorized), the catalog listing for this item does not mention "powerful maintenance-free motor" as it does for similar recent offerings.  Based on its $85 list price, however, I assume it is motorized as well.    It sounds like the "picture belt" is slipping on the rollers due to uneven tention at certain points. http://www.lionel.com/Products/Finder/ProductDetail.cfm?ProductNumber=6-37097&expandBranch=0&Keywords=Aquarium&CategoryID=0&RailLineID=&CatalogId=

I found that when an aquarium car (motorized or not) sits too long between uses the material keeps its shape where it was parked on the drive spools.  I always run mine every couple of weeks to keep film from doing that.

 

Steve, Lady and Tex

Savage,

 

Past posts have recommended some powder on the film loop to aid in rotation.

 

Can you verify? Does it have a motor or is it gear driven.  If it's motorized it will rotate while sitting still on a powered track, if gear driven, it won't rotate unless moving.

 

Ulterior motive: I'm interested because my wife would love one of these on her bookshelf as a display on a powered piece of track!

 

Ed

Thanks for the replies.

It is motorized Ed. 

 

I decided to keep running it, hoping it would start to run smoother. After about 30 minutes I glance down at it and the pictures look pale to me. I figure it was just the angle. I take a closer look and see the loop is inside out and upside down! It does run more smoothly though. 

 

I contacted my LHS, and they said they would exchange it.