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Lionel tank car broken in box

Boilermaker1Boilermaker1OGR Forum Member
You might know... the first thing I buy from Lionel in about 20 years, and its broken in the box. I picked up a 3 pack of Cerestar tank cars on a pretty good deal, they came this afternoon and on one of the cars the truck casting is snapped in half, so the coupler is just flopping freely. I havent been able to call the place I got them from because they're closed now, and I'm sure Lionel will hang me out to dry because they're old enough that they'll tell me the warranty is up... not that its probably worth it to ship it back to them.
So I guess my question is, there's no visible screw holding the truck on, I assume they come off from the inside, how does the car come apart? There's only 2 screws, but the chain and railings appear connected between the end platform and the body, and it would seem that there must be some order of disassembly to avoid wrecking the car to take it apart. Hopefully I can find another truck locally. The truck + shipping from lionel costs almost as much as the whole car did. Alternatively, will anyone else's trucks fit on these cars? I know I can get MTH trucks locally.
Thanks
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JohnBJohnBOGR Forum Member DIGITAL SUBSCRIBER
Boilermaker1,
Give Lionel customer service a call or email them. Contact info is on their website. Service is great so I am sure they can help you out. I had a Lionel flatcar with a wooden deck that had a bad truck and they replaced it no questions asked. If they don't send you one for free thay can give you the item number to purchase as a replacement. Go to a big Lionel distributor like Charles Ro who would most likely have the trucks in stock. Good Luck
JohnB
Boilermaker1Boilermaker1OGR Forum Member
Didnt buy them through private sale, they came from an authorized dealer. I'm gonna make some calls in the morning, hopefully lionel can at least tell me how to take the car apart, because I cant seem to figure it out. It looks to be tabbed together or assembled and the the end caps of the body are glued on to hold everything together.
Boilermaker1Boilermaker1OGR Forum Member
Correct Chuck, and the HO vs. O gauge episode has to be one of the funnier ones they've done.

I did call Lionel this morning, and they left me out to dry because they're "too old to warranty". I can understand this 3 year thing with electronics going stale in the box, but a set of trucks? Come on... they're probably the same ones that have been made for 30 years. Whatever, they can play it anyway they want. I gave them a try, and I guess I'll just go back to what I had been previously buying.
I have no intention of starting a brand war, but I can see why you guys all can get annoyed with them about the engines not working.
Gandalf97Gandalf97OGR Forum Member
quote:
Originally posted by Boilermaker1:
You might know... the first thing I buy from Lionel in about 20 years, and its broken in the box. I picked up a 3 pack of Cerestar tank cars on a pretty good deal, they came this afternoon and on one of the cars the truck casting is snapped in half, so the coupler is just flopping freely. I havent been able to call the place I got them from because they're closed now, and I'm sure Lionel will hang me out to dry because they're old enough that they'll tell me the warranty is up... not that its probably worth it to ship it back to them.


I understand about a retailer not being able to deal with engine repairs but for rolling stock? It seems to me that in this case, your dealer shipped you something that was either broken when it left or was broken in shipping. I don't see how Lionel is at fault here. Maybe I'm missing something... Confused
Boilermaker1Boilermaker1OGR Forum Member
quote:
Originally posted by Gandalf97:


I understand about a retailer not being able to deal with engine repairs but for rolling stock? It seems to me that in this case, your dealer shipped you something that was either broken when it left or was broken in shipping. I don't see how Lionel is at fault here. Maybe I'm missing something... Confused


Lionel made it. It was a dud casting. Its in a sealed 3 pack box that wasnt opened, so the place I got it from wouldnt have known. Nevertheless, That was the first call I made and I was told to call Lionel and did so.
Thankfully, my local place had the truck I needed, so its a runner now.
Boilermaker1Boilermaker1OGR Forum Member
It took a little fiddling to get apart, the screw came out, but there was a dab of glue or sealant holding each end in. A little gentle prying and I got it off, then the truck is just attached to the top of the frame. I just replaced it with what was on there for the time being because I was able to get the one I needed to get it out of paperweight status. In due time if I feel like it, I'll pick up the ones with the rolling bearing caps.
HD Harry DoyleOGR Forum Member
quote:
Originally posted by Boilermaker1:

I havent been able to call the place I got them from because they're closed now


Closed now, as in, it's after working hours? Or closed now, as in they are out of business?

If you just got them on the afternoon of the fourth, they're probably still in business.

Why not just call the seller, tell them the item is defective and return it?

I seriously doubt you're going to "hung out to dry" on a very recent purchase.
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