KTM Brass 4-8-4 NYC Niagara Help!

I am trying to take off the shell of a KTM brass unpainted NYC 4-8-4 Niagara O scale and I cannot figure out how to get the front end loose. There seems to be something still holding it on in the front but I can no longer see any more screws to be removed? Can someone help me figure out what I need to do to get this apart so I can see what going on inside. Thank you in advance.

Could there be a screw on top, accessible through the stack?

Simon

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Many brass engines had a screw at the ‘bottom’ of the stack.

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Welcome aboard, @TrainWhisperer

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I will check that and let you know, thank you.

I will check, thank you. :grinning_face:

Welcome to the forums!
I don’t know about the locomotive, but I hope that you find the problem!

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Quite often there’s a sleeve, disguised as a screw, with a slot in it as shown on this LMB HO Niagara:

NYC S-1 LMB bottom up by Edmund, on Flickr

Once the pilot wheels have been removed you might be able to loosen and remove this sleeve, or actually, hollow screw. Although looking at the underside photos at the Brass Trains site I see other screws that may be in place:


Look above #1 axle. Go to site to enable a closer look.

Good Luck, Ed

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Bet you the roundhead screw in the stack goes down into the top of that sleeve, just as the pilot truck screw goes up into it…

Thank you :smiley:

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Okay, Update: The screw I was looking for was the one on the front wheels are attached too. I did not realize it went all the way through. I got the shell off but not finding my issue of running slow.
Next is to check the gears more thoroughly.

Glad you were successful removing the boiler. So the engine is running slow? The engine might be quite old, with a weak motor. I have a 4-6-0 in O scale that had a similar issue. A new can motor addressed the issue. What power source are you using? You might need a lot of amps to get it moving. Mine does.

Simon

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If it’s an open-frame motor, replace the magnet(s) with a stack of modern NIB magnets plus shims.

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Yes, using rare earth magnets is another option.

Simon

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Thank you Ed! Very helpful

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