I have two modern Lionel operating cars based on the postwar No. 3434 Poultry Dispatch Car. One, the No. 29825 Postwar Celebration version of the 3434, has the figure suspended on the operating arm between two springs. On the other, a No. 16739 Looney Tunes Foghorn Leghorn Poultry Car, the operating arm appears to have been supported by a rubber band twisted in an “X” through two clip ears with the other end hooked onto a hanger above to suspend Foghorn inside the boxcar. Once I took the car out of its box, I realized everything was loose and the rubber band had deteriorated.
The instructions placed inside the box give no indication and offer no drawing of the operating mechanism, in particular the rubber band. Also, the only part listed on Lionel’s website is the figure. Do you have any information about the size of the rubber band so I can try to replace it? – Al Wussler, Smyrna, Ga.
Bruk Bannister recommends first identifying the Lionel part number for the rubber band as 610-9819-020. Unfortunately, that part number no longer comes up on the Lionel website, which means it’s not being made. A replacement is a no. 10-size rubber band. You’ll have to route it as pictured in Fig. 1. Lionel also used .005″ piano wire; just twist it as shown in Fig 1.
You may want to upgrade to a spring setup, which Lionel uses on newer versions of the Poultry Dispatch Car. Bruk recommends using Lionel part No. 600-0342-118. It isn’t the exact part used on the newer items, but it should get you a good result. For tips on installing it, check out Fig. 2. Be sure to make any needed adjustments, just as you would have to do if you opted for what’s shown in Fig. 1.
