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Hello fellow train hobbyists.  I have the plastic reproduction Lionel 164 Log Loader number 6-12915 that for the life of me I cant get the "loader" chains to work.

Unit is brand new but has been sitting for a while. When hooked up with the provided remote switch, one light (other possible bad bulb) and the unload features work, just not the load. No nosie or nothing. I have read of the lubricant becoming hard but I cant find how to take it apart to access motor or chains.

Can gunrunnerjohn or anyone else help me? As always thank you in advance.



J

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@eddie g posted:

Buy an original one. never had a problem. i have had one for 85 years. The new one is a piece of junk.

Eddie,

Having played with several of the originals over the years I don't believe that "Never had a problem" is realistically possible.  Even those originals were finicky to some extent.  And if you somehow didn't have a problem you're one of the lucky ones.

Just because you've been lucky doesn't mean everybody else will be too.

You're really helping this person out a lot.  In case it's not clear they'd like to get the one they have working, and not throw it in the trash can needlessly.

Mike

MikePGT81 - Im my particular case I had/have one of the newer reproduction models. My issue is was explained in my previous post. It seemed to be a motor or gear issue for me. I have read other posts about the grease becoming hard. Ultimately I could not find the parts I needed and had purchased to long ago to return. (It sat for a while, before install) I eventually ended up rolling the dice and buying a second used one on e bay. Seems all generations of the log loader have issues. Kinda surprised lionel hasnt done a new release.

Not sure that directly helps you, but I always try to respond to the forum as many members have helped me in the past.

J

I’m surprised to read some of the originals were “finicky.” I found a nearly mint looking original in an Atlanta, GA train shop in the early nineties that has always worked smoothly. Problem was, I was traveling light from SoCal with no suitcase, only a Samsonite suit BAG. A 164 makes quite a bulge in one of those bags. My greatest disappointment, however, was the zero reaction from the operator as the bag went through the airport scanner. It even fit in the overhead compartment.

Richard,

I didn't say that it was a big problem, or an extensive problem, and I certainly didn't conclude that it's an excessive problem, just one to be expected with any sort of product manufactured in quantity.  Variability, and controlling it in manufacturing, is the essence of quality control.  Most should work perfectly, some won't.

What WOULD be surprising to me is if everyone ever made was perfect, and required no adjustment, either when new or over time.

You shouldn't be surprised either.  Just because your unit, statistically a sample size of one, has had no problems does not mean that you (or any of us for that matter) can conclude that all of the rest of them must all be flawless as well.

That will never happen, and has never in the past happened.  Not for any product ever made.

Mike

@hesseljr posted:

Hello fellow train hobbyists.  I have the plastic reproduction Lionel 164 Log Loader number 6-12915 that for the life of me I cant get the "loader" chains to work.

Unit is brand new but has been sitting for a while. When hooked up with the provided remote switch, one light (other possible bad bulb) and the unload features work, just not the load. No nosie or nothing. I have read of the lubricant becoming hard but I cant find how to take it apart to access motor or chains.

Can gunrunnerjohn or anyone else help me? As always thank you in advance.



J

J,

Would any of these parts be of use to you?  I bought one for the uprights and have no use for the mechanism.  You can have it for the price of shipping if you want it.  My e-mail is in my profile.  Send me an e-mail with your address and I'll compute costs.

IMG_5815IMG_5814

It's not doing me any good here.

George

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Since you already replaced the item, this info is for someone else who may be in a similar situation.  The repro !64 log loader #12915, when sitting for decades, will not operate the chain conveyeor since the rubber o-ring has been under tension for all of these years and is now teardrop-shaped rather than round.  I was fortunate enough to be able to get to the gearbox [which is not designed to be serviced], able to open it without breaking the brittle tabs and replaced the o-ring.  My accessory works fine but I was lucky since I tried to do the same service to another one of these and it was a total disaster with broken wires and broken tabs on the gearbox.  I would advise buyers to shy away from the #12915 since they do not age well and are not designed to be repaired.

Susan Deats and George P aka G3750

Your help was invaluable getting the chain  log lift operable. Seeing different hardware configurations with access to the missing spare parts helped me unwind the mess I purchased and get it back to original set up. 



Next is figure out the dump bin cam levers.

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