497 Coal Loader Problem

[gottcent]

I have a postwar Lionel 497 Coal Loader that works well except for getting a dump car to empty into the receiving bin. I cleaned all the contact points on both track and cars and checked for proper voltages coming through. Yet when a 3459 dump car is in place and I move the controller arm to Dump, I get a buzzing sound, and the car's couplers open, but no dumping. Tried this with 2 different 3459s (both of which work fine with a regular 6019 operating track) with same result. Yet when I tried an older 3559 (postwar version) it worked fine. Why would this unit operate with a small older dump car but not with the standard later postwar ones? All other functions of the 497 work well.

[BigAl 956]

Going to assume a few things. This is an original Postwar 497 and not a modern era remake, the control blades of the chassis are properly outfitted for O or O27 track. (O track requires adapter blades installed on both sides to compensate for the height of O track).

How are you powereing the unit? The 497 can be powered by fixed or track power. You may not be giving the dump car enough power to activate the dump coil. Postwar dump cars with early style electrocouplers will uncouple on one side when dumping. If both sides are uncoupling when you try and dump it's a wiring issue.

I found this thread with more information about the wiring...https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/topic/lionel-497-postwar-coal-loader-and-operating-track-question-rse

[gottcent]

Thanks, Al. It is a postwar 497 and I'm using 027 track so no adapter blades needed. I'm powering the unit with an LW transformer, and I've tried both fixed power (with the unit's single wire connected to post C providing 14 volts) and track power (with that wire connected to terminal 1 on the track lockon). In the latter case I've raised track voltage to as high as 20 volts (the highest the LW will allow) and the result is louder buzzing but still no dumping. However, I just checked and found that both couplers are opening when I activate the unit so I will do a double check on all wiring.

[gottcent]

Double checked all wiring, tried different transformer, new track, all to no avail. Old 1940s dump car works fine, but newer 1950s models just open their couplers and buzz.

[ADCX Rob]

gottcent

postwar 497 and I'm using 027 track so no adapter blades needed. I'm powering the unit with an LW transformer, and I've tried both fixed power (with the unit's single wire connected to post C providing 14 volts)

A common(pardon the pun) mistake with the LW is erroneously using "U" as the common.  This transformer requires that "A" be used as common, and then only one coupler will open when you activate the dump lever instead of two.

[David1005]

The 3459 dump car will not work with the 497 coal loader. The accessory shoes are too far apart. You need a 3469 car. When Lionel changed from the coil coupler to the megnetic coupler they had to move the accessory shoes inboard so as not to interfere with the hinged part of the coupler on the bottom of the truck. When the 497 coal loader was designed, it was designed only for the magnetic coupler trucks with the accessory shoes closer together. To use the 3459 car you will need to either change the trucks or make some custom inserts that contact the more widely spaced accessory shoes.