just a quick request for some information. I have the 3472 milk car with aluminum doors. Everything works ok except the milk cans (repro’s) won’t slide down to be tossed out. Any suggestions as to how to get these cans to be delivered.(the town is going dry without their milk)
there should be a screw in the end of the car that you can unscrew to take the body off the frame. Then check the ramp for rust or anything that might be in the way. Also, check to see if the ramp is bent, that could also be the problem. Gravity brings down the cans to the “ejection” platform, so the cans roll down & get stood up on the milkmans base. Are your cans metal? I think its designed for metal, not the newer plastic ones.Dont know if that could be a problem as I have only the postwar version of that car, though.
The early milk cars are held together with a pair of spring clips. I have found the safest way to remove them is to take a drive punch slightly smaller than the wire and push from the outside, rather than prying from the inside. Once the plastic is off the frame the problems should be obvious.
Pete
just wanted to thank the people who responded to my question. Will try and use them to see what the problem is. Hopefully we’ll get the milk delivered
thanks
Sometimes just a touch of dry graphite lubricant in the chute can help as well.
The [}:)] Doctor is in! I have a few of the milk cars, with metal & plastic doors. The
problem may be a sticky unloader or the cans are jamming up in the chute. There
was a fixer-uper article in CTT a few years ago, you may want to find it and try a tune
-up. That may solve your problem. Good Luck!
I remain the humble, yet [}:)] Doctor!
OK, all, thanks for the tip to get the car off of the frame (it was held on with clips). The trouble seems to be that the milk cans (metal reproductions) are getting hung up at the end (delivery end) of the shute . The ridge at the "top " of the milk can is what is hanging up. Any ideas? File down the top of the milk cans? or ?? I also tried graphite but “gravity” is doing its thing so no hang up there.
Again thanks to all who responded
Don
A tap on the top right above the chute should take care of them when they jam.
I noticed this problem with new milk cans in my 3472 as well. They would frequently hang at one place or another.
The best thing to do is to just keep activating it until the cans get “worn in” some. After about 50 manual activations(with the top of the car off) and just as many automatic ones, the cans come out almost every time. I still have to tap the top every once in a while, but it works reliably for the most part.
I would have to pop mine open to verify the setup but I think you can bend the linkage on the solenoid plunger to give more or less movement to the gate that lets the cans drop down. Bending the linkages as little as a 1/16" can make all the difference. First try a drop of oil or graphite on all of the metal to metal contact points.
Pete
hey dr. manchu! i sent the money yesterday. should be a few days and you will
get the $75[#offtopic]
I think I’d use some emery paper on the cans.
Hi everyone. Happy holidays!
I received a 3472 milk car for Christmas today that is in need of a little rewiring. I see that Pete responded to a post a few years ago that the early milk cars are held together with spring clips. Mine has the clips.
After removing the clips my concern is that the doors have 2 “clips” that overhang the frame. Do I just push the clips back to allow the frame to come up? I guess I have to do this on both sides? I’m a little hesitant putting pressure on these since they are plastic. Anyone know?
Thanks - Rich
Rich,
To remove the doors from the car, gently press down and out in the center of the top of the door frame. Do this before atempting to remove the body from the frame. To reinstall the doors, insert the top of the door frame into the opening and snap the bottom into place.