Remove truck from Lionel 16734 Search Light car

@James Brown, the truck as cataloged on that car is a plastic one. You don't need to remove the truck from the car. The roller pickup assembly on that car is a snap on type. Take a small screw driver and place it between the truck side and the pick up assembly and you should be able to pop the assembly loose from the truck.

A word of caution on soldering your loose or broken wire: Because the assembly plate is plastic, it is quite easy to melt it where the rivets hold the copper wire contacts to the plastic. So don't hold the soldering gun to it any longer than need be. I have found it is helpful to roughen up those copper contacts (where you intend to solder the wire) with either sandpaper or scratch up the area with a sharp push pin.

@brianel_k-lineguy posted:

@James Brown, the truck as cataloged on that car is a plastic one. You don't need to remove the truck from the car. The roller pickup assembly on that car is a snap on type. Take a small screw driver and place it between the truck side and the pick up assembly and you should be able to pop the assembly loose from the truck.

A word of caution on soldering your loose or broken wire: Because the assembly plate is plastic, it is quite easy to melt it where the rivets hold the copper wire contacts to the plastic. So don't hold the soldering gun to it any longer than need be. I have found it is helpful to roughen up those copper contacts (where you intend to solder the wire) with either sandpaper or scratch up the area with a sharp push pin.

Very helpful, thank you!!