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I picked up a new Lionel operating milk car (6-83252), and, as I've done for other milk cars, wanted to install an ERR Mini Commander for TMCC control and a dashpot from a post-war 36621 to smooth the operation.

Imagine my surprise when I took the shell off and found not the familiar solenoid that's powered every milk car since 1947, but a servo motor mechanism with a control PCB! No more buzzing and milk cans flying out at high speed.   I'd idly wondered if operating cars could be updated with a servo mechanism, but hadn't realized that Lionel had taken that step.

The new design is even easier to convert to Mini Commander control, since it's already wired to get its operating power from the track.  The sliding shoes are just to trigger the operation, not to actually power it (like the MTH operating reefers). I removed the sliding shoes and connected the wires that had been connected to the sliding shoes to one of the outputs of the Mini Commander. A half-second pulse from the Mini Commander worked well to trigger the servo mechanism.

Just too bad there will be no more Mini Commanders for operating cars....

 

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Here are some photos of the mechanism.  Nearly all of the old milk car hardware is retained.  The servo control board is mounted in the bracket that used to hold the coil; there's a 555 in there:IMG_1643

The moving parts of the mechanism are the same; the servo is attached to a new standoff mounted on the old arm:

IMG_1644

New plastic bracket holds the servo in place:

IMG_1645

Overview of the mechanism:

IMG_1648

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Images (4)
  • IMG_1643
  • IMG_1644
  • IMG_1645
  • IMG_1648
gunrunnerjohn posted:

Yep, I'm still bummed about the demise of the Mini Commander!

A while ago I described using an HC-12 radio module to receive TMCC commands; you just need one HC-12 transmitting commands from the Legacy Command Base, and you can then pair a receiving module with an Arduino mini-type board to have the Arduino receive TMCC commands.

It occurs to me that one could mount an HC-12 and Arduino module (like this) on a carrier PCB. If the PCB included a power supply and some triacs controlled by the Arduino, you have the functionality of a Mini Commander for less than $20. The PCB could also break out some Arduino GPIO pins for easy control of servos, relays, or whatnot. 

Feel like designing your next PCB John?  It wouldn't be for everyone - you'd have to install an HC-12 transmitter on your layout to operate the modules. And it probably couldn't be programmable by the CAB-1/2 without infringing the Mini Commander patent. But it could be a fun project...

I just bought one of these 6-83252.  After barely ejecting a few milk cans, it quit completely.  I am not as knowledgeable about electronics as the above responders. Is there anything of a more simple nature I could test or look for?   The uncoupling/unloading fasttrack pieces work well with my old dump cars. I even tried with old ZW and tubular track - no response.

Milk car not making any noise at all now.

Thank you. (I can still return to Lionel)

 

 

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