c:\doc\web\97\09\fixtrain.txt


(arthur)
I found out that a pair of pliers will pull out those nails just fine
(I need to post some istructions one of these days!)


> Date:          Sun, 02 Nov 1997 20:02:06 -0700
> From:          Christopher Malloy <cmalloy@earthlink.net>
> To:            arthurhu@halcyon.com
> Subject:       Hotline Train


> I just got a Hotline Great Freight Set in a box, (opened but not played
> with) and an extra Hotline engine in its box too.
> 
> I still had my old engine from when I was a kid and decided I would try
> to get at least one of them running again. 
> 
> I found information on the net about how to get Sizzlers running again,
> and after I did that, I was confident that I could do the same with the
> train.
> 
> The problem, as you know, is how to open it. After thinking about it for
> several days I decided to bust open the old one and see how it was put
> together. A sacrifice.
> 
> What I discovered is that those metal things are nothing more than

> nails. They have a ribbed shaft and are a major pain in the ass. The
> surface of the head is very shallow, so I thought I may be able to drill
> it off with minimal damage.
> 
> Using a metal bit slightly smaller than the head of the nail, I slowly
> drilled it out. It ended up creating a kind of half-moon sliver that I
> had to bend off with a pair of needle nose pliers. Eventually the heads
> broke off and the train could be opened.
> 
> The damage was slight. The drill penetrated into the plastic around the
> head just a bit, leaving some rough edges, but all in all, the operation
> was very successful. I think I may try a little smaller bit next time.
> 
> Once the nails were removed, the rest was easy. The train separated very
> easily and I disassembled it without problems.
> 
> I soaked the metal parts of the battery compartment in Tarnex overnight
> to remove that green acid corosion. It was easy to find a 1/3 AA
> replacement battery and I checked the motor using a single "D" attached
> to 2 wires.
> 
> Even if the motor was no good, I was sure that I could find something
> like it, but fortunatly it was fine.
> 
> After a thorough cleaning and new battery, the train runs like 1971.
> Fast and strong as ever.The charge on the new battery seems to last
> longer too.
> 
> My train is zipping around now just like when I was 11 again.
> 
> Hope this helps.
> 
> Christopher Malloy
> San Jose, California
>