I am hoping that someone out there can help me install my cattle loader. I tried to lay the piece of track into the green base but the track doesn't fit. Is there suppose to be a special track section that I am missing? I would appreciate help from anyone.
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What type of track are you using? describe "does not fit", picture maybe?
I am using O tubular track which seems to be too long and wide. I have the loader that doesn't need a UCS section.
I can scan a copy of the instructions tonight if no one else does it beforehand.
The platform should have an activation "blade" that protrudes up between two of the track rails when positioned properly. This blade is what the sliding shoe on the underside of the car receives activation power from.
Just as an outside question, regarding the comment that the track seems too large - is it possible that you might also have an american flyer cattle platform rather than the Lionel?
You need two O gauge straights, the joint goes in the center and the one section of one track has room for the power blade and the other section has room for the ground blade.
Art
Picture, picture, picture. Everyone here is just guessing. One picture will tell the whole story.
Richie
I will post a picture in a few hours.
Picture, picture, picture. Everyone here is just guessing. One picture will tell the whole story.
Richie
what he said!!
keep playing around with it, it'll come together sooner or later
You also need to adjust the height for O and O27 track.
You also need to adjust the height for O and O27 track.
Are you sure you are using "O" track and not 027? If using 027, please know that the ties of modern 027 track have a different footprint than postwar 027 track and will not properly fit into the green base.
Are you sure you are using "O" track and not 027? If using 027, please know that the ties of modern 027 track have a different footprint than postwar 027 track and will not properly fit into the green base.
See if this helps.
Not in every posssible case, but generally:
O27 = brown ties
"regular" 0 = black ties
Maybe this will help those giving the explanations.
Maybe this will help those giving the explanations.
You probably already know this, but once you get the track inserted properly, the fun begins! 
The Cattle Car/Loader is a great classic Lionel accessory but also one of the most finicky (sp?) to get it working properly. Lots of adjustments and tweaking.
Good luck!
I have two separate cattle car operations (one old - one newer) and one milk car on a siding. Each has it own "dedicated" transformer to adjust the voltage for each accessory for optimum performance! -a bit of humor, actually just working is spectacular!
moed321,
If your picture is correct, you have your cattle pen assembled incorrectly. There are two sets of slots to adjust the pen height for O-27 or O-31 track. You have one tab in the upper slot and one tab in the lower slot. This will not work well.
search for my post on fixing the cattle car: "lionel cattle car 3656"
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