Lionel Culvert Loader Problem

Take a piece of 0 27 track & then your fast track. Make sure the rails line up the same

Tom

Actually ( should have mentioned ) I used regular O Gauge Track for the Culvert Loader & Unloader ( Transition Track ). The Culvert Loader & Unloader were specifically designed for regular O Gauge ( not o-27) track ( at least that is what Lionel says ). I don't think track or allignment is the problem. Essentially: The boom dumps the culvert far over where any style track is installed. Should also mention: My set is a recent reproduction -- not original equipment. Thanks.

I use 0 31 lionel track.  I had to bend the tabs flat on the loader and move the track over so the culverts would drop in the right place.  The adjustment on the boom is not enough to compensate by itself.  Mine works every time now. 

Are you using the postwar version or the funky re release with the german looking railway worker holding the remote control?

     I bought an original postwar Culvert Loader Fall 2010 at a garage sale.  After many hours of tweaking, I realized that for it to drop culverts perfectly onto the culvert car, I would have to move the track 1/8" closer to the loader.

     Since I am using Atlas O track with plastic ties, I cut the 1/8" off the ties on one side and now the loader never misses!

     I thought that the 1/8" closer dimension would cause other cars/engines to snag on the loader but I never did check that. I just made a spur for the Culvert Loader and backed culvert car into it.

John Knapp

Erie, not Eerie

I  think perhaps the suggestion to move track a bit would work if I didn't have both unloader & loader working together. If I move track or accessories: That means I srew up the accessory (unloader) which is now working perfectly. Obviously: Lionel should have built in an adjustment feature for both the unloader & loader for various track systems. I was hoping there was an aftermarket solution to adjust the point ( right - left ) where the travel arm drops the culvert. Building a complex accessory ( actually 2 accessories ) without any built in means of adjustment is poor engineering (my opinion). Any ideas on adjusting the travel arm ??

In case there is any doubt: I am using Regular O Gauge Track (just for the loader/unloader). That is following Lionel Instructions to the letter. My Layout is Lionel Fastrack overall but I use transition pieces to insert regular O Gauge Track precisely as Lionel suggests. My Culvert Loader / Unloader is the modern re-issue so Lionel has had plenty of time to address this very irritating issue.

Thanks again for all the feedback: Appreciate it greatly.

Hello Wolfpack1.  I don't know if you have your loader working yet, but I just got mine and remembered your post.  Mine is Lionel 6-37971 and can be used with FasTrack.  Looking over the loader, I can see that there is somewhat of an adjustment.  On the beam that crosses over the track, there is a cherry switch at each end, each secured by two screws.  The switch can be slid over a little.  When the hooks carrying the culverts hit each switch it stops.

Here are two photos showing both sides of one end.  Maybe you loader has these adjustments too.  If yours doesn't then maybe you could move the cherry switch anyway.

I hope this helps.

Do the command control culvert loader and unloader work well?

Mike

Thanks very much to CandO for the extremly useful suggestion. My Culvert Loader / Unloader is Command Control. I use MTH DCS with Lionel Interface box so it works exactly like the Lionel Command System. MTH DCS Triggers the accessories perfectly. My only issue is the loader dropping culverts about an inch off the car & onto the tracks ( vs. in the car ). CandO suggestion to move the Cherry Switch a bit might bear fruit. Anyway: I will try that to see if it helps. Lionel should (my opinion) provide written instructions & an easy adjustment feature regardless of track used.

It would seem very simple & not costly to do that. I have seen numerous articles over the years complaining about the same problem I'm having. Why ignore your customer base ??

Just as an unrelated aside: In general  I love Lionel  Fast Track & Fast Track Switches. However, many of the older Lionel Accessories (to include reissues) were designed for O Gauge Tubular Track. That means (in some cases) you can't get accessories close enough to the track ( barrel loader for example). All Lionel has to do is produce a Fast Track section with half the roadbed removed. Their solution is to advise customers to saw off half the roadbed with a hacksaw. Naturally, I have done that but it's a bit of a pain. Fast Track has numerous more difficult pieces covered. Simple 10 inch straight with half road bed removed is not covered. Amazing that such a common problem with simple fix is ignored. I'd have been happy to pay 50% more not to trouble myself with a hacksaw. Suspect I'm not alone.

I didn't remember what piece has the feature, so I looked it up. The Fastrack operating track has removable road bed on both sides.  It can be used for loading platforms where the track needs to be closer to the accessory. Here is a link to the manual.

Wow -- Thanks trestrainfan. I had no idea the operating section had removable roadbed !! That does solve most of my issues. There are a couple it does not solve but this really helps. I have the operating sections but simply didn't read the manual.

My error & apologies to Lionel.

Glad I could help.

I wish Lionel made a similar piece with the removable road bed, but with out the extra couple of rails and assorted stuff to make it an operating track. A less expensive piece that can be used with accessories that don't require an operating track.

If you have the original Re-issue of the culvert loader, not the latest which just came out, then the problem would be the traverse bar at the top.  Lionel did a warranty repair on the culvert loaders because the bar at the top was not cut correctly and exhibited the problem you have. I believe the issue may have been the holes for the micro switch were off so Lionel had new bars made with the correctly placed holes for the switch.  I would call Lionel to see if they have any of those replacement bars still in stock. 

The other option would be to lengthen the holes in the bar for the micro switch so the switch can be adjusted farther down the bar so the pipes drop further out and properly in the car.

Can't thank you folks enough for all these tips !! My Culvert Unloader works perfectly "as is". The loader is my issue. It drops the culverts on the opposite side of the car -- misses the car by a wide margin. My loader is not the original nor the most recent (just relesed) version. I'll have to check the exact number & will post that. I think it was built about 5 - 10 years ago. I bought it from a legitimate dealer so if the bar was manufactured incorrectly it should be a recall. I have an excellent Lionel Service Staion near me so they could fix it. Painful to disassemble from track & reinstall but much better than culverts on the reverse side of the track. Again: thanks so much !!!!

Just so you are aware: I'm disabled so disassebly of track & wiring under the layout is problematic. Fortunately: I have a super friend who helps me (as available).

Very frustrating for me because I know how to do almost everything but the body won't cooperate.

This is probably not your problem, but on the off chance it is, I'll mention it. I was placing my new culvert loader and culvert unloader on my layout. There are 2 raised notches in each one where the track sits. I assumed (wrongly) that the center rail should fit in the slots in each notch. The track position seemed odd to me. So, I looked more closely at the instructions and the diagram shows that it is the outer rail that goes in the notch. This made my Gargraves track flush with the front side of the area for the track with a larger gap on the side with the building. If you made the same error, then the culvert gondola car would be out of position by the distance between the center rail and an outer rail.  It's a long shot, but I thought I'd mention it.

I havent wired it up so I don't know if it will work properly. Good luck getting yours to operate well.

I'm pretty sure the track is posistioned correctly as I have had 2-3 other people check it out. Nevertheless: I will make it a point to double check. Just fyi: All the suggestions / comments are great. I am sending these to 3 other O Gauge folks with the exact same issue. I am confident we'll get to the bottom of this. OGR should write an entire article on this subject !!

Lionel just posted a bunch of tutorials on youtube

try this one

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9uhMEBkXJhc&feature=plcp&context=C38e3a21UDOEgsToPDskIONCkS5VXAN1H54N3ofk_E

Tom

Thanks a million for the video: A picture (video) is worth 1000 words !!