3482 Milk Car Problem

[kpolak]

I agree with pulling the shell off.  You need to remove the spring clips from the bottom...carefully, so you don't crack the holes for the pins.  These can just be compressed, and pulled out.

While you're in there some maintenance is probably in order.  Any cleaning of metal parts should be done with denatured alcohol, and a cotton swab (Q-tip).

Use a plastic safe oil from your hobby shop, and only use a very small amount.  Less is more here.  Look for the operating parts, the guy that throws out the cans, lubricate the plate, and base.

Do not oil the plunger at the end of the car.  It should be cleaned with denatured alcohol only.

Also, oil the wheels, and axles.  These cars are rather heavy, and helping them roll will work wonders.

Kurt

[brianel027]

TTT, I see from another posting you are a teen modeler. Cool, good for you!! I don't know what kind of budgtet you are on for your train purchases. I get the impression some of the trains you do have a more recently made ones. If you are going to be looking for deals on older trains on eBay, may I suggest getting yourself the Greenberg Lionel Repair Manual. It's nice to have the book form, but you can also find a dvd format too. You'll see those listed on eBay too.

The book doesn't cover everything, but it does cover a great deal and will help you immensely. When I started buying older postwar items (and I was always looking for junkers, beaters and items that needed some TLC), that book became very handy. Just getting the shell off the operating milk car is a little bit different from other items that come off simply with removal of a screw.

http://www.postwarlionel.com/cgi-bin/postwar?ITEM=3482

Here's a link to a useful site with just basic info about a variety of postwar Lionel trains. I linked it to the page about your specific car, but go to the bottom of the page and see the box for the homepage menu and then you can look up a wide variety of postwar items.

The milk car was very popular and is one of the most reliable of all of Lionel's operating cars. But there are a number of little things that can go wrong that will make operating it less enjoyable. Since the car is used, and if you do not know when it was last looked at or serviced, you might want to give it a basic check up. Having the repair guide will assit you there. You might even check your local public library... mine happens to have both the Lionel and American Flyer books. The book will come in handy too if you plan on purchasing other used postwar items off eBay. Another good site (maybe even better) is www.choochooauctions.com

You can usually get good prices there, and he sells a lot of MPC-vintage trains. You may find some D&H stuff there... I know I've seen it in the past.

Funny how you a teen and down in Maryland and yet a D&H fan. I remember seeing the D&H sharks and other locos when they would do run throughs and end up at the Lehigh Valley yards in Sayre, PA. Those D&H locos were sharp looking, yet I myself still prefer the ol' Lehigh.

[dmestan]

I used the repro cans in a 3462 and they work fine.  Need to be careful putting the can in so they roll down without getting sideways.  You may need to need to take the shell off to get the stuck can out.  If the can is still not getting to the man but the door opens and he comes out, try increasing the voltage.

don

[ttt]

The cans do have magnets in them.  I tried them in a 3482 and a 3462 and in both one of the cans turned sideways and I can't get it out.

[Kooljock1]

First make sure you've got the right cans.  "Shorty" or early Post War cars require the magnet-based metal cans, while later "scale-detailed" milk cars require the metal based plastic cans.  From the naked eye they look about the same size, but they're not.

 Jon

[ttt]

I have a Lionel 3482 milk car and I just got some milk cans today that I ordered off of Ebay and it doesn't seem to be working.  I think the problem is that the cans aren't getting fed to the little plastic guy.  What should I do to fix it?