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I just purchased at auction a K-Line K712-1251 Coal Dump Car.  The instruction sheet is dated 2002, but there is no question that it had never been out of its box until I removed it.  The car appears DOA.  It only works when I push the red reset button on the underside of the car but it doesn't work with either a known good K-Line remote, or on a remote uncoupling track like it supposed to.  Any suggestions?  Thanks.  John

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SURFLINER posted:

There were problems between the car and the remote on some of these - requiring you to "fix" something - inside the car mechanism.  There is a chance I have the information buried in my files.  Will try to find it and post it here or email it to you.  It is a large file with pics, etc.

John,  I have located the files - two separate ones - that I can email to you - if you provide me an address you want them sent to.

Background on the files:  Once upon a time, I began reading the TTML (1990s) and subsequently the OGR Forum.  I soon realized they had info that needed convenient preservation, by subject, as many of those providing it might not be around when I needed it.  Sadly, this has come to pass!  SO, a "big time" cut and paste project was undertaken.  The info I would provide you would be the "cut and paste stuff" from TTML and/or OGR Forum.  I cannot  vouch for accuracy of any of it, BUT HELL, it is a start and most likely a good one!

Back in 2006 I bought nine of these operating cars new from hobby stores, three operating log Santa Fe and six operating stone (Amtrak and C&O).  I envisioned building a construction zone on my outdoor railroad building an overpass.  Unfortunately only four of the nine would operate, and I gave up  after fussing over the inoperable cars.  One of the dealers casually dropped that he had sold them knowing that they might not work.  K-line was defunct, so I let the matter rest; the cars are now in hibernation. 

I formerly owned two K-Line wireless remote control dump cars -- a log car and a gondola. Both worked very well and very reliably with the K-Line hand-held controller. IMHO, the wireless activation feature is the best thing since sliced bread - there's no need to maneuver an equipped car to a remote control track section and then fuss with EXACT placement of the car over the in-track electromagnet.  And then ... K-Line went out of business and K-Line by Lionel emerged.

Later, Bachmann bought the rights to this ultra cool line of action products, but the Bachmann remote controller for their re-worked cars won't activate the similar (but different) previous K-Line by Lionel  products. A new Bachmann wireless remote controller is required to "talk" to their cars, so there's no backward compatibility.

So I bought two new Bachmann wireless remote control cars with their branded hand-held controller.  Lesson learned -- some days you're a regal statue in the park; some days you're a pooping pigeon.

Mike  (ritrainguy)

John, I just sent you two emails dealing with the K-Line Dump Cars.  Probably best you grab a cool brew or two - cause there is a bunch of information to sort through.
Now, as you know nothing is free and "there is a fee" for all of this and it is: Your let us all know the via OGR Forum if any of this was a help to you.  If it helps you, it  was worth my saving it all of these appx. 12 years.
Yes John, it looks like you hit upon a "festering nerve".  Please let me know, via OGR Fourm, if the attachments come through O.K.  If you get them O.K., I will forward them to those who have requested same.

Surfliner, I received both your emails and both attachments opened as Microsoft Word documents without problem.  Lots of pics, thanks.  The fix they cover concerns paint on the motor armature that must be removed.  I will examine my car and see if this could the problem.  Because my car was DOA and never worked with the remote or uncoupling track section I'm hopeful this could be it.  I'll post as soon as I know something.  Thanks again for all your effort putting the attachments together.  John

Checked the motor armature for paint, as per "the fix" in Surfliner's attachments, and there was no paint on mine.  Starting to suspect a bad board.  But I'm confused because the car always dumps when activated via the red reset button, but won't dump over an uncoupling track or with the remote.  Reason for the confusion is that both sides of the reset button are soldered to the board, so obviously the board is still driving the dump action cycle. 

Anybody have any idea what's going on here?  Thanks.  John

I have a PRR log dump and a PRR coal dump that both worked well.  After being stored away for 3 years, I tried them on my new layout in progress.  The coal dump worked fine after I reset it and it responds to the Kline controller.  The log dump starts to dump but does not complete (I reset it as well).  It responds to the controller but seems to bind part way through the dump cycle.  Could I have a copy of the repair files, please?  rick.whipkey@gmail.com

I have a PRR log dump and a PRR coal dump that both worked well.  After being stored away for 3 years, I tried them on my new layout in progress.  The coal dump worked fine after I reset it and it responds to the Kline controller.  The log dump starts to dump but does not complete (I reset it as well).  It responds to the controller but seems to bind part way through the dump cycle.  Could I have a copy of the repair files, please?  rick.whipkey@gmail.com

Richard

sent five a go - sorry for the delay

@jpnrc posted:

I just purchased at auction a K-Line K712-1251 Coal Dump Car.  The instruction sheet is dated 2002, but there is no question that it had never been out of its box until I removed it.  The car appears DOA.  It only works when I push the red reset button on the underside of the car but it doesn't work with either a known good K-Line remote, or on a remote uncoupling track like it supposed to.  Any suggestions?  Thanks.  John

I hate to rain on your parade but these log and coal dump cars over time crap out. I have several of them and have tried to replace circuit boards and other fixes. None worked. The only dump cars that work well and look decent are MTH or the metal not the plastic Lionel. The only problem with the Lionel are the sliding pickup shoes which don't like Ross switches. Winner: MTH.

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