397 VS 6-14004 Coal Loader

Anyone ?   For that matter, what about accessories like the re-issue of the 97 Coal Elevator #6-32921, or any of the others where the original motors were not used on the remake, but a can motor instead.

I have my own thoughts about it.  The originals are still around.  In most cases, even if the superstructure and it's moving parts are not in good shape, those old AC motors still turn.  So how much abuse can these can motors take ?

I have both of them in the new version.  They work great.  Quieter than the originals.  All of my accessories are the new versions, I think i have them all.

An interesting question! My postwar 397 seems to get “coal” jammed around the belt in the tray. Using bigger coal won’t go up the belt. Does the newer version work any better? From what I’ve seen, modern Lionel “coal” is either slivers of black plastic in the repo bags, or round marbles for the coal tipple. Way too small and way too big to work with the 397.

Many years ago:  I sifted-out the perfect size coal for my 397 loader.  Too small of pieces and the coal went underneath the belt and jammed.  Too large and they bounced backwards back down the belt. 

I drilled holes on one side in a dollar store plastic strainer that passed through any coal that was too small.  I threw the small coal away. 

Then I drilled larger holes in the other side that would pass through pieces that were larger - but not real big pieces.  I sifted the coal from the previous step again on that side of the strainer.  Anything that passed through those holes is the coal that I used.  I threw the large pieces that remained away.  

rick s posted:

...threw the small coal away...  I threw the large pieces that remained away.  

I'm sure that material could have been used elsewhere on a layout?

What about the can motor in the remake ?   Is it replaceable ?   The old version has a motor that can be serviced, while I believe can motors must simply be replaced.