I've recently purchased a 497 postwar coaling station online and I'm having a problem with the tray, it's not moving up or down although the motor sounds like its working fine. The dump and load function work, but not the others, any suggestions?
Have you taken the roof off and verified that the motor is working? The tray is connected by two strings; one on each side. The motor turns a bar that reels the strings up or down. Once the tray is raised to the top it will not reverse and go back down. You have to use the Down lever. Make sure you are not trying to force the tray by using the wrong direction if the tray is at the top. When the tray is at the bottom, it is possible to keep holding the down lever (or up lever) and have the tray come back up to the top. At that point the lever directions will be reversed.
Make sure the tray is not stuck in the track it rides in and make sure the strings are on their pulleys.
When I buy something "new" I always take it apart and clean and lube/oil everything before ever trying to use it. Especially the motor and any gearbox.
Hope this helps.
Mike
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