LIONEL TROLLEY TROUBLES!!

Classic Toy Trains Forum
1

I have have 3-4 of the Lionel bump and go trolleys. Some bought used, some bought new. In the last couple of years, I have bought 3 new ones and they all have the slider shoes on them, and none of them run worth the darn. I have heard others swear by them. I have purchase two of the MTH trolleys, and their have the actual rollers underneath, and run great!!

Is lionel not using a stiff enough spring to keep the shoe on the track? What are you guys doin to keep the Lionel trolleys goin? Lionel had rollers on theirs years ago…I wish they would go back to them…

Thanks,

Joe

2

Like you, Joe, I’m not a big fan of the slider vs. the roller. Maybe it’s a cost thing. I have tinkered with the one I have - running it on ‘flat’ track without a switch helped. Adding some weight also helped too.

3

This will go against anything you’ve heard and only use it for your Lionel trolley with the slider.Put a drop of oil on the track and let it run for awhile.You’ll be surprised.

Ed

4

I have one of the newer ones with the slide for the pickup. It just up and quit working until I put pressure or the weight of my hand on it (just to make sure it wasn’t on a dead spot in the track.) Came to find out that the wire going to the pickup had came loose and was dangling. Weight would make the connection and it would run until i released my hand. Resoldered and it is still working today. The EXACT same thing happened to my boss’ trolly he had on his Christmas display layout in our lobby. Just a thought but check that.

5

Thanks for the great feedback! I will check the wire to the slider shoe. On adding more weight…how does one do that. Are fishing weights used, and do these weights disturb the motor in any way? Also, On the oil suggestion, is a person supposed to use an oil that is conductive of electricity?

Just Wondering,

Thanks,

Joe

6

HELLO,ABOUT THAT OIL.I READ THAT HAIR CLIPPER OIL WORKS.I TRIED IT A FEW YEARS AGO AND IT SEAMED TO HELP.I WONDER IF ANYBODY ELSE HAS HEARD OF THIS? GOOD LUCK

7

I received a new Fort Collins trolley for Christmas and it already started acting up. A few days ago I used some QD electronics cleaner on a cotton swap to clean the wheels (a bunch of black gunk came off in the process). This really helped the sputtering at low speeds and/or stalling when hitting a bumper. The pickup shoe wasn’t dirty, but I clean it anyway.

8

paulcap,

That is weird. Because I’ve been using my train lubricant for my hair clippers. No joke. And it works.

9

Re weight, I don’t use the bumper action of these trolleys so I open it up and tape a few heavy bolts around the perimeter.