Removing Truck Covers on Life-Like GP9 and Walthers Proto SD7

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

I need to remove the plastic cover on the truck assembly on a Life-Like GP9 and a Walthers Proto SD7.

Are these covers just held on by pressure or are there tabs that hold them in place?

Any tips on removing these covers without damaging them?

Thanks.

Rich

2

Assuming you mean the black plastic side frames, on my Proto 2000’s they are all press fit. I insert the tip of a small screw driver between the plastic side fram and the metal truck and gently pry off the side frame.

Good luck!

3

There were two main types of trucks used on the Proto 1000/2000 models. An Athearn type and a Kato type. You described the Athearn type. Below is the Kato type. Try to pry the side frames off them and you’ll break the side frames.

If I remember correctly that loco uses Kato style trucks in which the side frames are anchored in place by the bottom plate. The truck has a very thin gap across the front and back where the plate and the truck body meet. It’s very hard to see but it’s there. To lift the plate you need to slip the blade of a small flat blade screwdriver into this gap and gently pry the plate up. There are locking pins along the sides of the truck that should pop loose as do this. The bottom plate should be free to lift off.

4

On both, I use a really thin screwdriver or an xacto blade and pry the covers off. Works well for me.

The P2K Gps trucks are just like the old athearn F-unit trucks. Same plate and gears and such. The P2K SD7 trucks are like what Jeff decribed.

5

I should add some information here.

The Life Like GP9 is the early Proto 2000 release. It is a non-sound unit. The words “Life Like” are stamped on the bottom of the loco.

The WalthersProto 2000 is the more recent Proto 2000 release following the acquisition of Life Like by Walthers. It is a sound equipped unit. The words “Walthers Proto” are stamped on the bottom of the loco.

Rich

6

Rich,

Whether it is a GP9 or an SD7, sound or nonsound, the “truck covers” come off the same way. I, like others, are assumiing the “truck covers” are the bottom plate of the trucks, when you turn over the locomotive, not the cover that holds the truck to the frame that covers the worm gear and that you see only when you remove the shell, which is the “worm cover”.

The bottom plate is made from tough plastic. Jeffrey’s description is spot on.

BTW, the worm covers come off the same way, with a thin blade of steel, and pop off too.

7

Rich, I am in the middle of working on some PK SD 7 and 9, Jeffery is right, take the bottom plate off and the side frame side right off.

Ken

8

LOL

Didn’t mean to suggest that sound units may have different truck assemblies. I just wanted to clarify the difference between the older LL units and the newer Walthers P2K units.

Yes, my reference to “truck covers” are to the plastic cover on the bottom of the trucks. In other words, when you turn the loco upside down, you are looking at the “truck cover” on the bottom of the truck.

Thanks for that additional info, Doughless.

Rich