#38 water tower- operating, maintenance and layout ideas

If I can offer a couple of tips, first of all make sure you use distilled water, or even de-mineralized water, in your water tower.  Second, when you store it, make sure ALL of the water has been removed, and maybe even blow it out with some LOW pressure compressed air.  I had a rusting/leak problem with mine where the motor shaft passes through a rubber seal/bearing and into the impeller.  Looks like some (tap) water had remained in the unit for about a year, and when it was put into service again I had a leak.  I now have a new motor waiting to be installed.

Tootle,

thanks for the suggestion- sounds like  a great idea to clear water out. did you use the lionel coloring or regular food coloring?  I found some information indicating the lionel stuff had sugar in it, wonder if regular food coloring would be better?

I was told by people on this forum to use food coloring, as it was safer than the Lionel stuff.

I recall an OGR mag reply by Jim Barrett about pump failure/leaks and there really was not an easy fix.

I have this accessory but only ran it twice to show wife and kids the water up down then packed it away.

Hi,

Does anyone know how to take the tank off  the 6-14086 operating water tower?  My spout works, but the water pump doesn't do anything.  I'd like to get inside of it before I throw it away!

If you google the Lionel part number you will a number of links where this accessory has had its problems.  But I didn't readily see any link to a how to repair fix item.  Sorry.

Take the two nuts off the roof. Then you can remove the roof. I believe there are two rubber washers on the threaded rods which hold the tank on. This should get you into the inner workings.

For what it's worth, when this happened to me, a rubber o ring went and the motor rusted up. I had to order a new one from Lionel.

CarGuyZM10 is correct...just remove the two roof nuts and the two rubber grommets, pull the tank up gently....you will not be able to pull the tank completely off because the water tubes are attached to the pumps, once the tubes are detached you will be able to get at the pump....if you are lucky, you may be able to get away with just a thorough cleaning of the pump motor.   Good luck.....I just use distilled water in mine....and knock on wood it has been trouble free for the past two years.

-Pete

Thanks Pete and CarGuyZM10.  I'll use your advice and see what's inside.  Maybe it will be fixable.  I looked up the part number on the Lionel website and of course it is unavailable, but it would be $30.00 if I could find one if needed.

Mix propolene glycol with the water,it will combat the rust problem.

Mike

I took the tank off and the pump and hoses were perfectly clean, however there was that wonderful burnt electronics smell that we all know and dread.  I guess the pump side of the circuit board has a problem.  Lionel lists the pump and circuit board as unavailable.  Does anyone know what voltage drives the motor?  I guess this water tower will work well with the Lionel crew talk, "Fill Er Up", sequence since there won't be any motor sounds from the water tower when the spout drops down.  There has to be something positive about this!

re: Lonnie and others:

Why does Lionel and others feel the need to make something that's simple, complex.  MY original Lionel water tank used a simple pushbutton to activate the pump and spout, no microprocessor, diodes, LEDs etc. , just simple wiring.

And while I am whining here, wonder why someone hasn't seen fit to open a Madison Hardware type Lionel, MTH store with bins of obsolete and reproduction parts.  I know, I know, $$$$$$$$$$$$$ and demand.

Getting off my soapbox.

I picked up one of these dirt cheap ($50) on a blowout table a few years ago. Problem is it has a ugly clear tank, not yellow. Have no idea when it was made.  

My question, anyone know if the clear tank is PW prototypical? I seem to recall seeing that somewhere..

Thanks

Joe 

I'm sorta surprised that it's the board, but boards fail often, so I shouldn't be. When my pump motor went, Lionel was having a 50% off parts sale, so I bought two. I put the one in a few months ago, tested once, dried, then listed it (with the other pump) for sale. I don't use it enough to justify it (I had to add water every time I went to use it, as it evaporated out). I still have it if anyone wants a fun accessory and uses their layout a lot.

Hi CarGuyZM10, I'm interested since I'll repair or replace mine.

Email me. It's in my profile.

I have 1 circuit board left for the #38 tower 25.00. Send a email if interested.

Chuck

www.Only3Rail.com

Noticed a posting by Mr Burfle was deleted in reponse to my posting about lack of a Madison Hardware.  Guess he mentioned North Lima Trainworks that is not an OGR sponsor.  And this posting will disappear.....

Here is a tip: If you used the supplied colorant with the newer models and the pump froze up, pour hot water in a wait a minute. This will dissolve the colorant from the pump.