Lionel No. 38 water tower

Doesn't it work that the "outside water" goes into the hidden center?

And like he asked, is it the water unit?

If so, does it actually have colored water in it?

Of course I have colored water in it.  It's  No. 38, which SHOULD pump water, I think.

If you have a postwar operating water tower, there should not be any water in the top reservoir when the pump is not running (idle). The water should only be the chamber formed by the double walled tank. When the motor runs, it should pump the water from the doubled walled area of the tank to the reservoir on top. When the motor stops, the water drains back down.

If you have much water sitting in that reservoir all the time, it's overfilled.

As has already been noted, Lionel provided dye tablets to make the water more visible.

Or it could have been gutted of it's pump and motor. Do you hear a whirling or squealing sound like the motor is running, or only the spout solenoid buzzing? Possibly a bad motor and / or wiring.  

Didn't Lionel make a non-pumping one like the #138, but with the amber tank of the #38?

1.  It was new a few years ago and operated fine on my old layout.

2.  It's been in storage for 2 years.

3.  Only sound now is the buzz from the spout lowering.  No pump.

4.  It appears that there's NO WAY to take it apart!

Yes, the #30. The #30 is sometimes found with the same double-wall tank as the #38.

This may or may not help, but on at least one or 2 occasions, when I had one "freeze", I gently blew down the hole in top of the tank with a straw.  This freed whatever was stopping the pump form running and it worked a bit.

Can't hurt to try, just make sure you blow with the straw!

(I'm assuming when you say it was new a few years ago that clarifies we are not talking about a post war original, but one of the re-issues from around 10 years ago.)

Here is a tip, since we now know it is the reissue we are talking about. If you have been using the supplied water colorant, it has lots of sugar in it, fill it with really warm water and let it sit for a minute, then try it again. If nothing, turn upside down and empty out. Try this several times to dissolve the crystallized sugar in the pump.

Dave:  I've tried the straw trick....Chuck:  Thx, I'll try that next.

Ok.....there is a pump and motor inside......I found if I used the dye it eventually clogged the pump which necessitated me taking it apart. i only use distilled water in the tank as per its instructions.   It sounds like you have a bad pump, especially since when you turn it on, you only hear the down spout mechanism.  You should also hear the pump activating When down spout is deployed. If you are exceptionally brave you can remove the roof of the tower, empty the remaining water and then remove the two small rubber grommets holding the orange tank to the tower base.  Slowly lift the orange tank, it will lift but catch on the clear pump tubes.  You will have to carefully remove one tube to get the orange tank to clear the white pump.  What I have done in the past is to open up the pump and clean it of all residue.  I believe there are two plastic gears inside that sometimes gunk up.  Clean them and if the motor or the pump is not burnt out it should work. Good luck, taking this apart takes some finisse.  Good luck Pete

Phil,

The supplied colored water that came with the tower contains sugar and can clog up the pump.  Its best to use distilled water and a few drops of food dye.  I've had my water tower on my layout for years and have had only one problem.  The pump got stuck.  I could tell because when I tried to activate it, other lights on the same circuit dimmed. Tthe pump motor would not run.  I normally run the pump on 10 volts.  I gave it a shot of 18 volts.  That allowed the pump to break free and turn again.  I then drained the water and put fresh in.

Only use distilled water.  Tap water will leave deposits as it evaporates and will also  clog the pump.

Try giving it a shot of higher voltage (no more than 18) to see if it breaks free.  The warm water as suggested above is also a good idea to help soften any particles in the water.

Thanks 2 all.  I'll try warm water 1st, then try to figger out how to disassemble.

OK; here's my status:  Warm water didn't help.  I WAS able to disconnect the tank from the base.  While the power was on and the spout plunger activated, I measured ZERO volts to the motor.  Thus, it's probably a board failure.....Agree?  How to fix?

It's fixed! I DID figger out how to totally dissemble it.  Pump gears were jammed; dirty. Cleaned, re-assembled; volia!  It's back to full operation.  Thx 4 all the tips, guys.

Good job, Phil. That blue dye, Lionel puts in the box does it every time.  Left in storage it gums up the pump gears.  Glad you were able to diagnose the repair.   I only use distille water in mine and it works without any problems.  Now if we can only find a safe dye to  run through it we will be in business!!