K-Line Passenger Car Repair Needed

Hard to tell from the pictures, but it looks like you have all the big pieces.  I see three doors, and two openings on the one side.  Is there only one opening on the other side?  Are there tracks in the shell to secure the doors?

That looks to me like someone had it apart to try to fix a lighting issue and one of the ground wires from a truck has been disconnected from a Molex connector (last picture). And GRJ, it looks to me like the fourth door is still in the body shell - see Brian’s top picture.

Can it be fixed? Yes, if all the parts are still in the box. I think that these must be incandescent K-Line  Streamlighting cars and the best course would be to substitute LED lighting with one of GRJ’s modules. 

If I was going to be at York I’d look at it for you there but I won’t be in the vicinity. With a screwdriver and the lighting kit it might be done on the spot.

gunrunnerjohn posted:

Hard to tell from the pictures, but it looks like you have all the big pieces.  I see three doors, and two openings on the one side.  Is there only one opening on the other side?  Are there tracks in the shell to secure the doors?

John, yes, three doors are removed and one still in place on the other side. Not sure how they attach. I’m also not sure how the trucks attach. 

Hancock52 posted:

That looks to me like someone had it apart to try to fix a lighting issue and one of the ground wires from a truck has been disconnected from a Molex connector (last picture). And GRJ, it looks to me like the fourth door is still in the body shell - see Brian’s top picture.

Can it be fixed? Yes, if all the parts are still in the box. I think that these must be incandescent K-Line  Streamlighting cars and the best course would be to substitute LED lighting with one of GRJ’s modules. 

If I was going to be at York I’d look at it for you there but I won’t be in the vicinity. With a screwdriver and the lighting kit it might be done on the spot.

That’s what I was thinking, replacing the streamlighting. Probably burned out from constant 18v from the transformer. There’s very little wear on the wheels and pick up rollers. 

Traindiesel posted:

 

That’s what I was thinking, replacing the streamlighting. Probably burned out from constant 18v from the transformer. There’s very little wear on the wheels and pick up rollers. 

You can usually tell whether one bulb is burned out by discoloration inside it. It's been a while since I had this issue so I can't recall if they are wired in series such that they will all stop working if one does. If you have the car apart and a source of spare bulbs,  then any defective ones are not too difficult to replace. The board in the top of the car should slide out through one end or the other of the car; it will slide along the t-bar just visible in your second photo. However, watch out for where the board is plugged in to the power supply from the trucks. There might be a PCB between the trucks and that connection. 

It's not a problem to reassemble as long as all the parts are there.  If you bring it to York, we'll take a look at the pieces.  I wouldn't try to fix it there, but we can at least formulate a plan.

Slide the floor out the end so you have all the pieces laid out. 

The doors go back in the shell. I'm sure they're supposed to just be glued in. Use Canopy glue or clear parts glue, not CA so that it doesnt white cloud around the door. 

It looks like you need to do a total re-wire and attach people back in the seats anyways, so you'll need the interior out. Use GRJs lightboard and some LEDs, a whole train of those cars will give a Z4000 breaker a run for its money. 

Assemble in this order:

The superliner interiors are just screwed to a sheet metal frame skeleton inside the car. I guess make sure that all the screws are currently holding it together. Secure the shell to the floor with the pile of screws you have.

The trucks go back on by inserting the tab above the coupler in the floor, and securing it via the screwhole on the opposite (facing middle of the car) side of the truck plate. (The car will not slide back together with the trucks on and the shock absorbers mounted on the sideframes.)

The last thing to go on are the car ends, which just pop into place and are held to the floor with a screw in each corner. 

The 2 triangular parts next to the left hand truck are the shock absorbers, they just pin into the sideframes of the truck unless the tabs were busted off, in which case, use glue.

From the photos, you appear to have a complete car.

I'd be surprised if the doors are glued in, they wouldn't be out and clean if that were the case.  I'd have to see it up close to see how they were installed, but I'd hold off on the glue.

Since this is a bi-level car, you might reference my recent post about doing my Amtrak SuperLiners, the process will be similar for an LED upgrade.

MTH Amtrak Superliner LED Upgrade in Pictures

The dome car I just finished is another good reference for bi-level car LED installation.

LED Lighting Upgrade for MTH Full Dome Car

gunrunnerjohn posted:

It's not a problem to reassemble as long as all the parts are there.  If you bring it to York, we'll take a look at the pieces.  I wouldn't try to fix it there, but we can at least formulate a plan.

Thank you gentlemen for your help.  I truly appreciate it!

John, I'll bring it to York with me for you to look at it if you wouldn't mind.  Then you can let me know how to proceed?

Brian, we'll see you there.

Thanks John. I appreciate it!  See you next week.