Re-stringing a Lionel TMCC Crane Car

Here's the instructions for restringing the crane, they're near the back of the document.

Lionel TMCC Crane Car Pictorial & Parts.pdf

I don't think anyone is going to be able to give you concise enough instructions from that picture.  This is one of those jobs that is a "you have to be there" kind of operation.

Oh my God would I cry if that happens.  I guess the rule is have your finger on the halt button when using.

I let go of the crane arm once upside down when I was working on the trucks, WHAT A MESS!  Took me an hour to restring it, that's going to be avoided in the future!

I vividly remember the time I turned mine upside down for some reason and the lines became slack and off the rollers.  I was up til 2:30 am but I did finally get it right.  How, I have no idea.  I just didn’t give up on it I guess.  I miss my crane, and the sound car.  Great model trains.  Definitely cool.  Good luck with yours.  Depending on your tolerance level, whiskey may or may not be a good idea to accompany you on your journey.

Cheers.

O.K. read this s.l.o.w.l.y:

Looking at mine. The 'little hook" string comes from the rearmost spool. The one on the right in your photograph.

It goes over that shiny silver single pulley on the crossmember just to the left of the rearmost spool.

From there, if the boom is pointed away from you. The string goes over the right side shiny pulley underneath the top front crossmember and then under the right side shiny pulley on the lower front cross member.

Then it goes up through the right black colored cable guide at the bend in the boom. Then out over the top of the end pulley.

The middle spool operates the boom, and the front spool operates the big hook.

Hard to tell. I wonder if both of those loops in your photo are the little hook string. Maybe the end of the little hook string is wrapped into one(or both) of the other spools.

Best of luck Rich. I have a headache just from looking at mine and trying to figure out how to dictate it to you.

Does this help see?

I would probably put on the cd Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon if I was going to attempt what you are doing, but that’s just me.  Have to get in the zone.  I remember cables crossing over each other adding to the fun.  When I rehung mine, it was still intact, just had to be rerouted so to speak.  Starting from scratch, if you can figure that out, solving Rubik’s cube, speaking Polish and beating the odds in Vegas should be a piece of cake.

  I can't open the file with my readers (4).   It seems to becoming more and more common for PDFs to fail lately too. What is the reason for some folks insistence on PDF vs jpg or even png ? I never saw an advantage to images needing the occasionaly proprietary software? 

Buy a new one!!😖. Seriously; I turned mine over and like the others the boom went slack and it was a major PITA to get everything back the way it was. If I remember correctly I carefully used my dental picks which did help manipulate the delicate strings.   Good luck with it. 

Thanks everyone for your help, explanations, and humor! I think I am now equipped to tackle the project. Whiskey, check. Floyd’s DSOTM CD, Check. Ricko’s excellent instructions printed out in large font, check! I may not be successful, but sure to have fun trying 

Rich

I find myself in this situation today, so this old thread was helpful.  With my banana fingers, I'm starting in an unenviable position.  Thinking outside the box, would it be simpler to untie the string where it's tied near the end of the boom (not the cab)?  Perhaps it could be rethreaded through the pulleys more easily and then tied off again.  Trying to put each line on the proper pulley at both ends of the boom has been difficult, but I've only tried for about 20 minutes.

@texgeekboy posted:

I find myself in this situation today, so this old thread was helpful.  With my banana fingers, I'm starting in an unenviable position.  Thinking outside the box, would it be simpler to untie the string where it's tied near the end of the boom (not the cab)?  Perhaps it could be rethreaded through the pulleys more easily and then tied off again.  Trying to put each line on the proper pulley at both ends of the boom has been difficult, but I've only tried for about 20 minutes.

Owning a few of these cranes myself- no, dear lord no.

Get yourself 2 simple things.

#1 a lighted magnifier, my favorite is this 7X that is sold under different brand names but the same basic model. "Carson Illuminated Hand Held 7x LED Lighted Aspheric Magnifier with 1.5'' Lens Diameter (SV-70),White"

#2 A set of tweezers often used for surface mount electronic repair- but very useful for small parts placement and in this case, picking up the strings and relocating them to the correct groove on the pulley. "YHYZ 9pcs Anti Static ESD Tweezers Set with Case, Premium Precision SMD Stainless Steel Tweezes Kit (Fine, Curved, Flat), for Electronics, Hobby, Crafts, Jewelry Making, Soldering, Laboratory Work"

@Vernon Barry,

Thanks once again for your comments.  I was actually getting back on here to say that I looked more carefully at the string route and saw what I was suggesting was pretty much impossible.  I do have a good assortment of tweezers, but the magnifier with the light is what I really need.

One thing I think you'll find invaluable for this task is a spring hook.  I have several, but the one with the really tiny end is the one I used for this task.  I agree what you were thinking about would have driven you to drink, that would be close to impossible!

The little spring hook is my favorite, but I've never seen one that size again.  Both of these are from the 1960's, and they've been with me for 50+ years.   This was back when tools were made to last!

I haven't looked at my crane, but I'd think it would be possible to install a string with small hooks on the end (or something similar) to attach to the boom and the car deck, to serve as a motion limiter to hold the boom down with its strings taunt in case the car is tipped over. Before operation, the "limiter string" would be removed, and after operation it would be put back in place.

I've ordered from the big online store a magnifying headband with LED lights and some small spring hooks.  I've used a magnifying headband before (coin collecting) and loved it, but my big head broke it.  They'll be here tomorrow, so I'll post an update before the weekend.

All,

First of all, thanks for all the above suggestions. I’ve acquired all the tools mentioned above and after a lot of time I find myself no closer to completion.

Can anyone that’s gone through this process remember the procedures for restringing or provide any hints?  I actually had one of the sides restrung correctly.  I then put some masking over those strings and pulleys to prevent them from coming off as I worked on the other side, but after a bit they came off. The expletives were numerous and nasty.

FWIW, the diagrams above refer to a TMCC crane, here's a link to a legacy crane if that's what you have.  Might not be helpful, but maybe worth a look.  Stringing diagram starts on page 10.

LEGACYCrane.pdf

@TedW,

Thank you very much for this additional info.  The stringing of the main mechanism to raise/lower the big boom is the same, but your manual has some nice details about the hook mechanisms that aren't in the TMCC manual.  Not sure why they left it out of the TMCC manual since it appears to be exactly the same.

I'm 99% sure the TMCC and Legacy cranes are exactly the same mechanically.

Yep, had this happen to me once.  Not an easy fix, take your time and it will come together.

@gunrunnerjohn,

From the big online store I bought "Ullman - PH-4 PH 4 Hook and Pick Set - High Carbon Polished Steel Hand Tools with Aluminum Handles. Workshop Tools".  A picture is below.  While there's no little hook, the guy on the right has a nice angle on the end (can't see it in the picture very well) which I quite like.  Right now they are under $10, and while the online description said they are made in China, the packaging on the ones I received said they are made in the USA.

One last plea, does anyone have any suggestions on how to restring this beast?  I guess I'm not all that good at puzzles any more.  I've worked on it for quite a few hours and am no further along.  I'm kinda embarrassed since everything I've read said it was a 1-2 hour job.  In fact, I think I took a couple of steps backward.  The line between the pulleys on each side is now twisted around each other.  I'll be sending it to a Lionel service center if I can't figure it out this weekend.  BTW, the above tools were extremely useful in this endeavor.