Need help on opening up a Lionel Heavyweight passenger car

John - There are four screws at the corners.  Then you have to remove that underbody detail piece (one screw and a plastic lip that fits into a slot in the floor).  Then you will see two . call them wedge pieces that are held in by screws and fit into slots on the body sides.  Back the screw out slightly and slid the wedge out. The car will then come apart.  Be careful with the corner screws and plastic posts when reassembling.  Very easy to over tighten the screw and split the post.  Not a lot of plastic on the post.  

Be careful of the wires for the overhead lighting. They are tucked in and there is not a lot of slack between the shell and frame. I'm pretty sure there is a plug that can be disconnected.

What happened to the windows?

Looks like mold, doesn't it?

Bruce

cjack posted:

What happened to the windows?

Thanks guys.  Going to try one tomorrow.  The cars windows have adhesive blotches on them. They came from the factory that way.

What will you use for replacement windows?

I cut strips of overhead transparencies to use as windows for my Lionel heavyweights.  They still look good. 

The windows in my heavyweights came like that too.

Pingman posted:

What will you use for replacement windows?

I ordered a ton of replacements when Lionel had there 50% off sale ... they were less than  a dollar a piece. They have a certain tint to them that my box of over head acetates did not have... but the clear looks good as well, great job!

The observation cars are a must fix!

The wretched snowflake or clouding effect (both descriptions too nice for this nuisance) is the result of the adhesive used on these strips at the factory. It set like concrete but reacted with the plastic forming the window strips. Removing affected strips and the residue of the glue is a real bore; it takes a solvent like Goo Gone to clean it up. It looks like a cellulose-based glue. The replacement windows come with adhesive strips top and bottom. I also like the green glass tint.

There was a thread on this subject a while back. From my own experience the defect may take years to become visible and it can only be dealt with by replacing the affected strips.

Actually looks like frost on the windows...maybe some snow on the roof and you're good

I have some cars like that as well, haven't gotten around to replacing them yet.

I figured it will be a high of 20 degrees this week-end and there will some good football on... time to get the toolbox out and start repairing...

I replaced a few of them also.

I replaced mine on the George washington with Lionel replacement parts.  Big improvement for less than $ 20 dollars shipped from Lionel.  I also ordered an additional set of steps for the observation car on the set.  For some reason it did not come with one for the platform.

lionel89 posted:

I cut strips of overhead transparencies to use as windows for my Lionel heavyweights.   

 Must be what MTH used on one of my PS1 diesels, but they keep popping out.

What me worry?

Hump Yard Mike posted:

I replaced mine on the George washington with Lionel replacement parts.  Big improvement for less than $ 20 dollars shipped from Lionel.  I also ordered an additional set of steps for the observation car on the set.  For some reason it did not come with one for the platform.

Yes, I neglected to order a set of steps... will be on next years part list. 

what is an  "overhead transparency?"

Remember these?  It's the printable transparent film that you use for presentations.