Modify Lionel 6-82097

Wouldn't it easier and far less expensive to just get an older one with switches?

Pete

I've been burned twice now with both used and so called "new" cranes (that sat in a collector's closet for years) neither of which worked. 

How about fixing one of those cranes, it's bound to be easier than totally rewiring a new one.  Since the new one has DC motors, it'll be a bit more than switches.  You'll also want to tune for realistic operating speeds.

@tm22721 posted:

I've been burned twice now with both used and so called "new" cranes (that sat in a collector's closet for years) neither of which worked. 

Same.  Bought an older one that turned out to have broken gears and such.  Bought a NIB one at a train show that wouldn't move.  Tried to buy another NIB one at the next train show but had learned my lesson, and asked that we try it out first.  Didn't work, so didn't buy.  My FOURTH attempt at getting a working gantry crane is in progress, as I'm buying one from a member out here.  He verified it works.

I will make it work. Including an Arduino, motor shields and Xilinx gate array if necessary.

The crane you want is the AMC-ARC TMCC crane. It has DC motors and the electronics are in the switchbox, not the crane body.

http://www.lionel.com/products...antry-crane-6-24114/

Pete

@tm22721 posted:

I've been burned twice now with both used and so called "new" cranes (that sat in a collector's closet for years) neither of which worked. 

I have one of the earlier ones that had a slipping rubber belt. That's seems to be what goes wrong with them. I fixed it and it works now. I bought a new motor assembly for it as a spare and don't remember if I replaced the slipping one or not, because I also at first opened the old motor assembly up and increased the friction for the belt.

Since then, I replaced it with the new electronic TMCC one that has a motor in the base so it rides by itself along the Gargraves 5 rail track. Pretty cool. I like the new one.

@Norton posted:

The crane you want is the AMC-ARC TMCC crane. It has DC motors and the electronics are in the switchbox, not the crane body.

http://www.lionel.com/products...antry-crane-6-24114/

Pete

I looked at that but it was made years ago. I want a unit in current production.

@cjack posted:

I have one of the earlier ones that had a slipping rubber belt. That's seems to be what goes wrong with them. I fixed it and it works now. I bought a new motor assembly for it as a spare and don't remember if I replaced the slipping one or not, because I also at first opened the old motor assembly up and increased the friction for the belt.

Since then, I replaced it with the new electronic TMCC one that has a motor in the base so it rides by itself along the Gargraves 5 rail track. Pretty cool. I like the new one.

There is no spec for the belt because Lionel never sold them, so you don't know what to order. I have seen various belts recommended here so it's a crap shoot. Lionel stopped making the motor assemblies years ago.

I would rather spend my time making a current production unit work for my needs rather than being an expert on the old derelicts.

In the for-what-it's-worth category...

I bought new gantry cranes....one w/magnet, the other w/clamshell bucket (both of non-Command versions)..from our LHS many many years ago.  These were of the China vintage.  They worked fine when newly installed.  Then, due to other priorities in life, they sat idle on the layout for many moons.  

One day I decided to just have some putz-fun....turned on those two accessories...and.....zip/nada/no-mo whatsoever.   BUT.....the motors were certainly trying their hearts out..

So, we took apart the gear box on the magnet crane.  The search for the guilty ended quickly.  The so-called 'Grease' that they had slathered all over the gears had turned rubbery-gummy.....like dried up rubber cement!!  Good Grief, Charlie Brown.....What was somebody thinking when they specified this glop??....or, rather,  made a poor substitution decision!!!???

Anyhow, long story shortened, all of the affected parts...gears, shafts, box interiors...were cleaned (mineral spirits and acetone....and lots of ventilation) and LaBelle 106 (white grease w/PTFE) liberally reapplied.  After reassembly the crane worked like a charm.   I then repeated this whole process on the clamshell crane....same issues...with the same excellent results.  

These super neat accessories still find themselves sitting idle for long periods between use.  But, now, when I fire them up, they get a-swinging and a-hoisting like champs!

So, I'm sorry for your bad experiences with the secondary market, but I can't help but think that you might find a newer version at a good price that simply needs some TLC inside that gearbox to get its moxie back.

Oh, and BTW, the hardest part of gaining access to the inner works of the gearbox is the snap-latches holding the box halves together.  They're a bit fussy to release.  Just take your time and use care in doing so.....you'll want those latches to work when it's time to put 'er back together again!

Just a suggestion....

KD

@dkdkrd posted:

In the for-what-it's-worth category...

I bought new gantry cranes....one w/magnet, the other w/clamshell bucket (both of non-Command versions)..from our LHS many many years ago.  These were of the China vintage.  They worked fine when newly installed.  Then, due to other priorities in life, they sat idle on the layout for many moons.  

One day I decided to just have some putz-fun....turned on those two accessories...and.....zip/nada/no-mo whatsoever.   BUT.....the motors were certainly trying their hearts out..

So, we took apart the gear box on the magnet crane.  The search for the guilty ended quickly.  The so-called 'Grease' that they had slathered all over the gears had turned rubbery-gummy.....like dried up rubber cement!!  Good Grief, Charlie Brown.....What was somebody thinking when they specified this glop??....or, rather,  made a poor substitution decision!!!???

Anyhow, long story shortened, all of the affected parts...gears, shafts, box interiors...were cleaned (mineral spirits and acetone....and lots of ventilation) and LaBelle 106 (white grease w/PTFE) liberally reapplied.  After reassembly the crane worked like a charm.   I then repeated this whole process on the clamshell crane....same issues...with the same excellent results.  

These super neat accessories still find themselves sitting idle for long periods between use.  But, now, when I fire them up, they get a-swinging and a-hoisting like champs!

So, I'm sorry for your bad experiences with the secondary market, but I can't help but think that you might find a newer version at a good price that simply needs some TLC inside that gearbox to get its moxie back.

Oh, and BTW, the hardest part of gaining access to the inner works of the gearbox is the snap-latches holding the box halves together.  They're a bit fussy to release.  Just take your time and use care in doing so.....you'll want those latches to work when it's time to put 'er back together again!

Just a suggestion....

KD

Yeah I took a few  motor assemblies apart on a 282R and 12700. Replaced the grease but the belt was also a problem. I have some belts on order but don't know if they're the right ones. Don't want to play belt roulette.

The  grease in the 24114 crane was ok...just the belt slippage problem.

I can see why you would want the newest crane. It's really cool how the whole crane moves along on the 5 rail track...did I mention that? Anyway, I see no issue with rewiring a controller onto it. I would buy one of the older controllers and provide wires from the three motors and magnet coil. I haven't opened one up, but it's surely two spdt switches with steering diodes to reverse the polarity to the motors. You will have to add a switch for the rail motor.

@cjack posted:

The  grease in the 24114 crane was ok...just the belt slippage problem.

I can see why you would want the newest crane. It's really cool how the whole crane moves along on the 5 rail track...did I mention that? Anyway, I see no issue with rewiring a controller onto it. I would buy one of the older controllers and provide wires from the three motors and magnet coil. I haven't opened one up, but it's surely two spdt switches with steering diodes to reverse the polarity to the motors. You will have to add a switch for the rail motor.

Yeah the schematics for the older cranes are in the service documentation, but I could not find one for the 82097 so I will have to reverse engineer it.