3454 Automatic Boxcar

[pkielty]

I have the 3454 Automatic merchandise Car.  it is in good shape  

It will not operate the unloading chute, although it does uncouple.  There must be some kind of a short, but if the uncoupler is working, wouldn't that preclude that there is no short.  The shoes seem  to be functioning well-- they make contact on the track and the wire from the electromagnet at the coupler does not seem to be broke or unconnected.

Any advice out there?

[ADCX Rob]

Do both couplers work?

When you try to unload, does one of the couplers open?

[pkielty]

Rob-- first  thanks for responding

After several attempts thinking only one coupler worked, finally the second coupler started to work.

And then miraculously, when I went to unload, the mechanism started to work and kicked out those cubes like crazy.  So that is working now

But --- the door won't close right now.  It seems restrained by a spring or some kind of a catch up inside the car, and the coupler in fact does uncouple in the unloading operation

What does this mean?

pk

[ADCX Rob]

Your 1st problem was probably just dirty slider shoes.

The car must be cycled through all of the unload steps  - 5 or 6 or 7 - I forget - before the door will close again.

[Papa_D]

The Sept '94 issue of CTT'S has an article by Ray L Plummer on servicing the 3454 automatic merchandise car.  One of the troubleshooting hints is " Door action slow or incomplete- Check for bent or loose door guides. Clean door slots. Lubricate pivot bearing."

Other advice-  Do not oil solenoid. Contacts on shoes should be clean and shiny.

Hope this helps.

[pkielty]

Okay-- the door closes on the 7th cycle, I believe.

Botton line-- the car operates well when the door is on the right, but the rear coupler opens.

When i turn the car to discharge to the left, I can see smoke coming from somewhere.  so it does not work that direction

[ADCX Rob]

That's probably the other coupler or it's connection to the sliding shoe.overheating.

If one coupler activates while operating the unloader, it is functioning properly.  This is a side-effect left over from the prewar era when the couplers were reset/closed by gravity.  The switch to magnetic plate couplers starting in 1948 eliminated this issue for operating cars.