I’m in the process of restoring a 1949 #3472 Milk Car. It had been stored (badly) for over 40 years. It appears from the Greenberg Repair Manual that the operating mechanism is the same as the '48 #3462 milk car.
I’ve gotten everything cleaned up, rewired & adjusted and it seems to be working nicely except for the “can sweep arm”. When the solenoid is activated to unload a milk can, I think the sweep arm should also retract so that the next milk can will drop down. It doesn’t & I can’t see any provision for, say, a spring that would pull the sweep arm back under the can chute. There also doesn’t appear to be any mechanical device to do this. The repair manual & diagrams don’t seem to indicate anything helpful either.
I should also mention that I’m pretty sure this car has been tinkered with sometime in the past so it’s possible there might be a part/parts missing, though it looks like everything is there.
Any help would be appreciated.
Rich,
If you open the doors on the non operating side of the car, you will see the main arm as well as the can sweep arm. There is a tab hanging down from the can sweep arm. This tab should touch the main arm. To improve the return action of the can sweep arm, bend the tab toward the operating side of the car. Bend it slightly and check the action. Repeat if needed. You don’t want to bend the tab too much, because they can break. Oil the can sweep arm pivot point. Hope this helps.
Jim,
Thanks but maybe my description is misleading. The can sweep arm “returns” just fine (and positions the milk can in front of the figure). What I am trying to find out is what causes the arm to pivot in the other direction when the solenoid is activated? It has to go back under the chute in order for the next milk can to drop down. I can’t see anything to make that operation happen. [%-)]
Rich,
The left side of the figure is against a curved metal upright. This upright pushes the can arm underneath the chute while the figure is moving forward, allowing the next can to fall into position. I think that adjusting the part of the can sweep arm that touches the upright will solve the problem.
Ok Jim, I’ll take a look at that tomorrow. Thanks again for the info!
Hey Jim,
I tinkered around with the mechanism after work today & I think I’ve got working properly. I had to do some bending of the can sweep arm as you suggested. Thank you for your input!
Rich,
I am glad I could help. Any time you have a question, please don’t hesistate to ask.