I can’t remember how to get the thing apart and I have to get access to install a sound decoder. Your assistance is appreciated.
Fergie
Fergie,
Use a thin blade screwdriver or knife and insert it in one side of
the tender between the shell and the frame. There is a small slot about
middle ways on both sides. Then gently pry apart. Good luck. Dave
Thanks Dave but…
It’s not the tender I have to diassemble, it’s the engine itself. This is very frustrating as I normally very good at pulling things apart. Reassembly is a different thing.
Fergie
Fergie,
In the Athearn Mike(mine anyway) the tender holds the decoder. The wiring is already ran to the
tender with the DCC plug. Just curious as to why you would have to open the loco.
BTW… I had a Soundtraxx decoder installed in mine before I removed it for another loco. There
is(was) a step by step on the Soundtraxx site, if you want to check it out. Good luck, Dave
Thanks Dave
Looks like I’ll have to do the hotwiring that way. Unfortunately I am not aware of a male plug for these hook ups
Fergie
Don’t feel bad, Fergie. I spent 15-20 minutes myself rying to figure that out and only got it 1/2 way off. With the BLI Mike, it’s 3 screws and it’s off in less than a minute.
Tom
Well it’s like this…
I went Dave’s route and all looked good until I noticed the “red wire” was sticking out of the loco, Ohoh I said and then it began. It took me over an hour to figure it out and came to the conclusion “Athearn doesn’t want people taking there stuff apart!”
The “mike” is a well constructed machine and well engineered to boot. Unfortunately it was very difficult and took me a lot of hair pulling, tongue twisting and a little bit of profanity. Yes, say it ain’t so but.
The engine is back together and working and with two screws to spare… Doh! yep I’ll have to go at it again tomorrow but this time I’ll know how to “pop the hood”!
If you want to know the Cadbury secret ask a proffessional!
Fergie
glad to hear you got it figured out. I had to take mine apart when it was new because I got one of them unlucky cracked gears on the driver set. About a year later the engine just quit and it took me a while to find a dead short on a screw and the metal cover under the frame. I just couldn’t figure out how to slip the boiler forward off the engine, just seemed too tight but that’s the way it works. I made good notes this time. next time, when I install sound, i’ll know how to do what. that’s one engine i’m happy never to have to take it apart. thanks for sharing.
It also helps when you pull the Stack and the circuit board in the front end. Yes it’s together and working… Whew, Glad that’s out of the way.
Fergie
I had to open up mine once to fix a broken wire. Wound up emailing Athearn to ask what the trick was! Fortunately there was a product review of the loco in MR the next month, which also had useful info in disassembly.
Before I re-assembled, I cut off the boiler backhead just past the locking tabs, made a styrene filler to account for the thickness of the saw cut, snapped the boiler back down then tacked the filler and backhead back in place with a dab of Goo. A little flat black and no one’s the wiser, plus it will come apart very simply next time.
I suppose if I ever have to open up my Genesis Pacific I’ll have to repeat this process…