Ok - before I beat my head against a wall here. I must be slow or something. I’ve been trying to figure out how to remove the shell from a Bachmann Spectrum SD45 for the past hour and have done nothing other than break a couple of locking tabs so far.
I’ve been going over the blow out diagram and can’t find a hidden screw or latch or anything. It’s got to be easier than this to remove a loco shell to get to the insides.
Does anyone have any ideas?
Thanks,
-Greg
Is this one of those engines where you have to slide the coupler boxes out first and then lift the shell straight up, or did you do that already?
I didn’t know to try that but ironically I did - I removed the couplers and was still fighting with the shell to get it up. Looking at it the coupler boxes don’t seem to be connected in any way to the shell.
There’s gotta be a way.
Looking at the Bachmann website drawing the coupler boxes attach to the frame but extend through the locomotive pilot. So if you don’t slide the box out through the pilot, the bottom of the pilot opening will be be restrained. If the model you have doesn’t have a solid piece on the shell under the coupler, then this advice does not apply.
I have some Athearn and Atlas engines that do have the coupler/pilot thing, and even with the box removed it was difficult to remove the shell, at least the first time. I had to get between the frame and shell with a small flat blade screw driver and pry gently. The trick was to move each end of the shell a little at a time. I don’t do the prying thing along the edge of the shell and frame because if I slip I can damage the paint on the shell. I try to find a location around the ends in the area of the engine trucks.
Oh, and what do those two screws that look like they are hidden under the fuel tank casing do? Are they just for the motor mount?
Considering I haven’t been able to get the darn fuel tank off cleanly, I don’t know - but I think they are for the motor mount.
Do you have one of the older ones with a split metal frame? If so, then the screws are for the fuel tank, and then the shell screws are hidden under the fuel tank.
If you have a newer one, then the shell is held on by the coupler boxes, and they have to be completely removed to get the shell off.
I went through the same head-scratching as you when I attempted to remove the shells off the three I have. Yes, the coupler boxes DO need to be removed. There are four tabs on the bottom of the body that lock into the metal chassis sandwiching the walkway in place (similar to how an Atlas shell mounts).
There are two tabs even with the rear axle of the front truck and two tabs centered between the lead and middle axles on the rear truck. Releasing these four tabs is very difficult. I found it just as easy to insert a small screw-driver between the metal fram and the underside of the walkway and gently pry the tabs loose. Pinching the shell at those points also helps.
Mark.