Lionel Baggage Car 9011 - vintage 1993

  Find a kid with braces and take his rubber bands.  That is what I use to keep these couplers shut.

Thank you for your reply.  Unfortunately, magnetic couplers on Lionel passenger cars operate differently than the magnetic couplers on Lionel's traditional rolling stock.  If you have any Lionel 2531 or 2541 series aluminum passenger cars in your inventory, you will understand why orthopedic rubber bands don't work.  This 9011 baggage car has similar magnetic couplers except these open w/o warning.   Thanks for the suggestion.  Urbie

Here is a link to the truck assembly.  Yours is is second from the last.

This is the predecessor of the truck used on VL refers and a number of other modern cars and it is still problematical today.  The older version has an advantage in that bottom plate can be removed by bending back the tabs wrapped over the axles - the modern version is riveted.

I have found the lock link spring (600-0487-020) is too weak to keep the knuckle closed.  The weight of the bottom plate (used for magnetic uncoupling) can overcome the spring by bouncing and vibrating.  Remove the spring a stretch it out a little bit.  That should keep it closed.

Thank you, Dan, for the suggestion.  I’ll give it try, and see what happens.  Irbid

Hi Dan, I am at my laptop, and finally have an opportunity to review your post in more detail.  I did not see a link to the truck assembly that you referenced.  If it's not too much trouble would you please resend.  TY  

I removed the trucks from the frame, and the bottom plates have tabs wrapped around the axels.  Once I remove the plate, I should be able to access the spring, and stretch it a little as you suggested.  Unfortunately, I won't be able to put the car to the test until next week.  So please allow a few days before I can get back to you with results.  Thanks again, for your suggestion.  Urbie.

Sorry, Urbie.  I was so busy typing I forgot to attach the link.

https://www.lionelsupport.com/...lement38Complete.pdf

Let us know how you make out with it.

Thanks, Dan,  The link is very helpful.  Again, I won't be able to test the truck until early next week.

Hope Lionel Support still maintains an inventory of spare parts for these trucks...just in case.  Again, appreciate the help.  Urbie.

Hi Dan,

I removed the springs on these problematic trucks, and stretching the existing springs did not solve the problem...they still opened-up under normal operations.  So I replaced the springs with ones I found in ball point pens.  Took a while to find the right springs, but I eventually found ones that are slightly longer, wider in gauge and considerably stronger then the originals.

These seem to be working, but keeping my fingers crossed.  I am trying to find replacement parts for this truck by Lionel Support does not carry these in their inventory.  In fact, none of the half dozen parts dealers I contacted have them in stock.

If anyone knows a source for these, please let me know.  The Truck Part is #610-9011-100 for the 9011 Lionel Baggage Car...vintage 1993,

Thanks.

Urbie