So here's how my night went...

Been there many times.  Some days it like dominoes.  You go to run trains and relax and its on thing after another.  Other days, life is good.  

Funny! I remember your layout and video, really fantastic!! There is no better joy in our hobby than to repair vintage equipment.   its worth the effort to get that accessory fixed and running again!

Funny! I remember your layout and video, really fantastic!! There is no better joy in our hobby than to repair vintage equipment.   its worth the effort to get that accessory fixed and running again!

Haha.  Love the "official Lionel glue" crack.  THAT is funny!

I've often said that nothing takes more time than working on O gauge trains.  Anything and everything takes forever.

Jerry

Throw it all in the trash and buy a Telefunken U-47

  I was there about a week ago. I changed projects but the virus just kept spreading.  I gave up and sang Cripple Creek Ferry real loud "and walked towards the door", debating a bit.. could I do SOMETHING more?... It wasn't the trains so I hummed a refrain, on the way to the forum to work out my pain...also. 

I’d settle for a RCA DX-77!

Jon  

Adriatic posted:

Throw it all in the trash and buy a Telefunken U-47

You'll love it!  It's a way of life!

Have had similar experiences in the past, both with trains and with cars...  

Mitch 

somedays, you just have to walk away.

Jon:

I am completely sympathetic. At least you did the adult thing by just walking away.

Me; on the other hand; I can recollect one occasion specifically when I set out to adjust the speed at which a pair of zStuff crossing gates were descending.  After multiple attempts that only resulted in the gates performing still worse than before the previous attempt; I finally snapped, yanked both gates off my layout and stomped them to smithereens.  Therapeutic?  Absolutely!  Stupid (and expensive) loss of self control?  You betcha!

A couple train club buddies now refer to the instances when they are on the verge of snapping as “Curt moments”.  What a great way to be immortalized.  😏

Curt

Curt:

Again, I can sympathize.   I've avoided several locomotive-sized holes in the nearest window by simply getting up and doing something else for awhile...  

Mitch 

Yes I can relate. Last weekend I spent the better part of Sunday afternoon tinkering with the Lionel Authorized Self-Torture Device otherwise known as the 3656 Cattle Car and Platform. 

"Drop the pliers and walk away."

I'm embarrassed to say many years ago I had a K line engine that no matter what I did would not stay on the track.  It would work flawlessly and then as soon as I turned my back it would fall off the track. Almost like it was possessed. One day I took it and smashed it on the floor so hard I think it left dent in the floor.  To this day I still regret it. I should have just given it an exorcism I think!

Train Nut posted:

I'm embarrassed to say many years ago I had a K line engine that no matter what I did would not stay on the track.  It would work flawlessly and then as soon as I turned my would fall off the track. Almost like it was possessed.

Norma likes bumping into the trains and causing the occasional derailment.   I think she's part Gomez Addams.   

Mitch 

Doing something else is often the best course of action.

So Norma possessed your layout huh Mitch? 

Brewman1973 posted:

There is no better joy in our hobby than to repair vintage equipment. 

I'll second that.  I'm proud to say that many a Lionel and Marx basket case has come to life under my hands.  I am currently working on an American Flyer 312 that I rescued from the scrap heap.  Just taking it slow and gradual keeps me from getting frustrated with progress.

My Oil Drum Loader works flawlessly.  That is until tonight.  The drums were not seating properly on the forklift and kept winding up on the deck between the forklift and the black metal tilting mechanism of the ramp.  Also, for some strange reason, the oil drums are not rolling smoothly down the ramp.  

I adjusted the voltage and found that about 13 volts is the sweet spot.  

I go against our throw-away society by resurrecting old trains wherever possible.

Mark

I hear ya. Earlier working on lionel 60 tune up and noticed bulb wire had cracked insulation. Ok change wire...too much bare wire at bulb base..dead short.  Fixed that... erratic operation. Disassemble... motor lead wire was bumped and touching rotation shaft.  Adjusted and running great.  Went to operate milk car that was repaired last week..nada. Hands went up in air...a few expletives...shut off power go upstairs.   Fendermain

KOOLjock1 posted:

I’d settle for a RCA DX-77!

Jon  

Does it come "With leather"? 

Shrink tubing with a hair dryer! 

Mitch 

Yeah, I had the Telefunken U-47B once.  Kinda had the same problem.  The watchamacallit kept sliding off the dohicky.  What a PITA!!!  But, it kept me out of trouble.

Rick

Seems silly to buy such a high-end microphone and then send the electrons through an Optimod set to "11"...

Jon

Time to just jump on the boat and forgetaboutit!...wait, wrong season.

KOOLjock1 posted:

Most of my accessories are built into the scenery.  Roadbed... trees... bushes.  And so my Lionel, LLC PWC #497 Coal Loader stopped working.  So with much leaning (and sucking in the gut... come on... you know you do it too) I was able to pry the cover off the gear box and clean out the official Lionel Glue that used to be "grease". 

Reassembly. 

Doesn't work. 

Disassembly.

Belt came off drive wheel on reassembly.  Put it back on.

Reassemble.

Test.

Perfect.

Now I just need some coal.  So I run a freight into the siding, dump coal into the tray for my Post War #97 Coal Loader and fire her up.

That's when the chain came off the sprocket.

Turn out the lights. Go do something else.

Jon

Hey Jon,  Been there, done that!

Jon, Would you like to experiment with some fake "coal"? I could send it to the station if you'd like. 

A pal gave me a about a gallon and I really only have about 8 hoppers to fill.

   It's for refilling some kinda medical filter; charcoal or a charcoal equal. Not at all dirty or anything. Kinda like a small, very hard bead about the dia. of a stir stick, but solid, or close to it anyhow.