Quick note on some 3665 repair
I recently purchased a couple of Minuteman cars for my layout. A common problem seems to be that the missle comes up but does not lauch. I found that the problem is in the diaphram. Open the diaphram and stretch the spring out a bit equally, just a little, making sure you don’t pull it too much in one area. I reassembled the diaphram and the missles come up nicly and lauch once the doors open.
I had a missle launching car and one of the main problems is that the part that holds the missle does not come up high enuff to fire. The other problem I had was the missle fell apart, the wings would fall off after several years.
Lee F.
I like to keep the 3665, and other missile launching cars with rubber diaphrams, stored in the after-launch open position when not in use. Keeping the diaphram fully extended in the open position makes for a stronger launch the next time it is compressed.
Regarding the broken missile wings, I guess that is why there are so many replacement missiles available from parts dealers. [;)]
I also keep the missle raised when not in use on all the missle cars. Also I use a replacement missle and keep the original ones put away to keep its value. I also found a place on the web and bought a new diaphragm for my Missle Launch car for $1.00. I have a replacement satellite for the launching car for my kids to play with. Now that is a cool car!
Its the same problem with the Missle Launching car. If you remove the clip on the bottom of the car, and take off the missle housing you will see a rubber diaphragm. It looks kind of like a plunger. If its broken, replace it, if it’s not broken take it apart and stretch the spring a bit. This will make the part that holds the missle come up all the way since its the diaphragm that pushes it up.
I agree the Satellite launch car is great play value. I modified mine to launch from the CAB1 (TMCC) with a Mini-Commander from electric RR. The modification also requires a center rail pickup, and a coil/firing pin used on the Lionel Coal/Log dump cars. Works great! I can launch satelittes from a moving car now. Jim