A few weeks ago there was a post on problems with the TCA Anniversary version of the Lionel Train Orders Building. The writer found the mechanism to be gunked up with hardened grease to the point where it wouldn't move. This was timely for me, as I have one of these new in the box and I'm just in the process of installing operating accessories on my layout. I decided to go ahead and take it apart and check it out before trying to install or operate it on the layout. As described in the original post, the thing is a pain to take apart and reassemble. It wasn't quite as bad as I feared, though. I was afraid I'd have to unsolder a bunch of wires, but it turned out that by breaking two heat-sealed plastic wire channels on the base, I was able to get enough slack in the wires to split the upper and lower halves and get enough working room to clean it up. At first I thought I'd escaped the problem. The grease in the drive train was sticky but not too bad. Then I got to the sliding platform that carries the little man back and forth. The grease on that had the consistency of rubber cement. No way that platform would have worked properly. It was really nasty stuff to clean off. Alcohol wouldn't do it; I wound up using Goo Gone. You have to be careful not to get Goo Gone on any exterior surface because it will instantly dull the finish on the plastic. Anyway I got it all cleaned up, relubed with LaBelle grease, and put back together. Now it works fine.
Thanks to whoever put up the original post on this problem (Bobby Ogage?).
