Robert, Knowing this machine as well as (or as poorly as) I do, I guess I am not surprised that our simple little fix did not "fix" anything. BTW, I assume that after the unit rotates approx 1/2" (at least on the right when looking from the rear) it then quits? Does anything 'click' before shutdown? From your description of what's happening, it sounds to me that the left side is trying to work but dragging. Your idea to lubricate those one-ball bearing blocks, especially the left one, might do the trick. (BTW, So as not to induce any drag, I would recommend using a plastic-safe oil rather than grease, because most greases dry out a bit (or a lot) with time, especially if the unit sits awhile before reuse.)
Here's another thought: Have you checked each of the the long axle, small end, drive-gears for total looseness (or partial looseness), especially the left one? I've seen gears that will slip around a bit before re-engaging the axle, and the partial loose rotation would cause the left side to lag behind the right side a distance of a gear-tooth or two. Of course, total looseness might also cause a serious lag problem. That's probably why the car carriage ***'y has to be driven from both sides. Either way, a "loose" left drive gear would cause the car carriage assembly to twist a bit...in the process causing a serious left-side gear mesh problem, enuff so as to prevent going forward....but in reverse things would work just fine. Just a hunch, but I'd sure check for a loose drive gear.
Here's another idea even more way-out than the last one: While I do not know enuff about the mechanical workings of the two geared vertical plastic columns that activate the four car clamps, I can think of two reasons why they may be involved: 1) I have no idea why the two return springs are needed, but maybe one of your springs is weak or broken, or somehow came detached...and the unit won't work properly without it. 2) I'm also thinking that any side-to-side lag twisting of the carriage piece, even a little bit, may be just enuff to wrack the left clamping column out of alignment, causing it to jam, rather than freely sliding up and down as it should. Remember, it too is gear-driven, so it wouldn't take much travel in a wrong angular direction before it jammed against its housing channel. So, check your springs! (I know, that is way out there, but at this point it also might be worth looking into.)
Finally, knowing that you have a platform 'twist' problem is a really great observation, so keep looking until you find the source of the left-side drag. Remember Occam's Razor? To wit: When something quit's working that was working just fine, it is usually something simple that caused it to quit, not something complex. So...Any chance there is still a piece of your 'coal' still lodged in the gear mechanism somewhere?
Robert, I'll stay with you on this problem until you either fix the thing...or take a sledgehammer to it! BTW, it is my strongly held contention that only we weenies that have had a go at trying to fix this little aggravating gem of a toy could possibly understand what true frustration is all about. Right George? (I really wonder how many others are silent members of our exclusive club? Maybe we should initiate and become charter members of the "Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to The Really Great But Non-Running & Maybe Non-Fixable Lionel Accessories Club".) No parts available, no circuit diagram, no Lionel help, no more to be made. from Just a thought...
