Crane hinged roof has broken off. On the bottom side of the roof is a metal plate where a small wire used to be attached. The crane will not operate now. It did in the past when the roof and wire were attached. I assume the roof is an antenna and the wire needs to be soldered back on? Or is something else causing the crane to not operate?
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Well the antenna is the roof, but there could indeed be a lot of things that would cause the crane not to function, it's easily one of the most complicated accessories Lionel has made, and it rolls around as well. 
The statement "will not operate now" is way to ambiguous! Does it do anything? Did you try reprogramming the TMCC ID?
Thanks for the reply GUNRUNNERJOHN. I can see a small light in the crane but nothing operates. I think what you are saying is I should solder the wire back to the metal plate on the back of roof and try to attach the roof back on (tape?)
That sounds about right if the wire came off of the roof. It is a start anyhow.
If that wire shorted on something else, you might just be starting diagnostics though.
Reattaching the roof? You didn't say how it was broken either
The roof has flimsy hinges, they're easy to break if mishandled. I've seen a couple that were off.
FWIW, be SURE you don't let any slack form in the crane lines and they get tangled! You will only want to restring one of these ONCE to know what a PITA it is!
Too late on the caution with the slack. My grandson was having a great time and I neglected to issue the caution. It has been my meager effort to untangle the lines that have resulted in the broken top (it was hanging on by only one hinge when I got it) and the remaining hinge broke and then the wire came off. I am going to try my soldering skills (absent) and see if I can eliminate the lack of the antenna as a reason the crane does not operate.
It took me about an hour to restring it, how did you do? 
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