Lionel 165 magnetic crane

Classic Toy Trains Forum
1

I recently bought a prewar Lionel 165 magnetic crane at an estate sale. It is complete with the controller, electro-magnet, and even a 165-83 bag of scrap steel, nearly full. All of the wiring needs replacement, but the major problem is the boom is broken. I see there are replacement booms, but my question is what needs to be done to replace it. There is a pin that holds it to the cradle, but it seems like the cab needs to come off to get access and pull it out to the side. To get the cab off, it looks to me that I need to take apart quite a bit underneath so that I can lift off the top. The motor and gears look to be in excellent shape, and complicated, so that I would rather not take it all apart.

Has anyone replaced a boom and if so, what needs to be taken apart and what are the steps?

Thanks,

Mark

2

Update. First the good news. I saw a small setscrew underneath and loosened it. It released the drive rod for the spool, and the cab assembly on top pulled out. Very easy and no taking apart anything underneath. I then had no problem getting the cab off. Now the bad news. The pin holding the remainder of the broken boom was really very tight, and I broke the tops off both of the supports where the pin goes through getting it out. I have just glued them back with epoxy, but I doubt that will work. I don’t see how I could have gotten that pin out without breaking it, but there must be a way.