Postwar 264 Forklift

The 264 Forklift takes a bit of tuning to get it to operate properly.  I've made adjustments to the spring and have done a thorough cleaning of all moving parts.  A bit of graphite helps on certain moving pieces.  

The one thing I have learned, at least with the one I have, is that it works better at higher voltages.  This makes for a rather determined fork lift driver.....LOL   Also, I did not fasten it to the platform at the back end.  I just let the track hold it in place.  

Fastening it down hard to the platform is a subject of some debate.  For some, it works better.  For others allowing some floating, if you can call it that, seems to be the trick.  

At any rate, I agree, a can motor would be a good solution.  However, we are still playing with toys that are fifty, sixty and seventy years old.  Most with the ubiquitous vibrator mechanism.  And they are still working or near waking.  I wonder how long a can motor would have lasted in these toys.  

Dan, that's great your 264 operates correctly. I've spent hours cleaning, adjusting, tweeking, replacing springs and strings and still the same poor inconsistent operation from this accessory. I was looking for someone who has modified this piece as I plan to do..Thanks

Service pages. I have not modified mine so hopefully someone will help.

I'm searching for the parts and schematic manual for the re-production model Forklift 6-14000..You sent me the manual for the original post war. I have this...Thanks

Sorry.

So does the newer release of the forklift have a can motor ?

My Postwar fork lift used to work flawlessly,  but is now very inconsistent in picking up the wood. It needs an adjustment I am trying to figure out.

Dan, the newer forklift does indeed have a can motor and I was able to find a part number for it , however Lionel claims this part is unavailable. As I stated earlier, I'm searching for someone who has knowledge of the part and service manuals for the reissue 264

Would the re-released forklift number be 6-14000 ?

I've read through this thread because I've been looking at adding a 264 to my PW layout.  But I got so frustrated with the 356 freight station adjustments (and loud noise) a few years ago that I gave up on it and it just sits as a static display on my layout.  Am I in for more of the same with the 264?   Are later versions less temperamental?  Some vibrator motor PW accessories work fine (e.g. culvert load/unload), others not so much.

I have wondered how yoyo wax or other dressing might perform on the string. I always suspect slip or lack of it first. Some of my vibration motors strings seemed waxed.

For sliding and plastic gear issues on things that should remain dry, graphite can be messy. So can talcum and doesn't always help.

  I use a plastic safe teflon dry lube (spray evaporates).  It looks like a very thin waxy dishwasher mineral haze at first, but can be polished off, leaving surface VERY slick and bone dry (or left on to spread with contact) (originally for airplane de-icing & build up prevention. It actually repels dirt when thin too )

It's my go to for my watchmans shanty. (to be honest, after two applications a few months apart, it still doesn't need it again after 7 years)

Id keep it off my string and belt track on pullies and use sparingly too. My last can lasted a decade used very often but sparingly. A drop'll do ya really; I rarely spray out more than an extension tube full and apply drop from it that way.

Hi Gary...I gave up on the PW 264 and found the reissue Lionel 6-14000 from 2009 to be the solution if you want to see this accessory operate as designed. Lionel could sell a conversion kit for the PW 264 and have alot of satisfied customers, but that idea probably makes too much sense!!!

There was never a repair/parts list for the 264 re-issue, so you are chasing ghosts there. The original 264 are fairly reliable, I surprised the one you have is causing problems.

I just recently bought a PW 264 myself. Mine works great, hardly did anything to it except for cleaning up some rust on the base. I’ve noticed it seems to work better in the higher voltage range (14-16v). The forklift operator gets lazy at the lower voltages, gotta give him a good jolt to do his job!