I have a page with some disassembly instructions, perhaps more detailed on which screws to remove.
I believe my information came from TOC also!
see if this helps: https://elmassian.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=68&Itemid=94
Greg
As I recall, there is actually a press on red plastic part on the switch in question. If you carefully remove that, then the shell can lift off past the actual switch.
Hmm, on my Annie it wasn’t a press on part, it was a “fly off and get lost” part (https://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-cool.gif)
So Eric - I haven’t read this entire thread. I assume you have a trashed chassis that you are replacing. I need some of the running gear screws to repair one of mine. If you are willing I will take a picture and highlight what I need. Should be able to go in a 1st class envelope -OR- if you want to part with the entire bad chassis I may have some $ available. LMK.
All,
OK, it is all pulled apart. The issue was a number of “pipes” coming off the air tanks. The little red “fly off switch”(Good one, Greg!) didn’t matter at all once I could move the boiler and cab forward. Actually, my oldest (9) - she is also my #1 accomplice in this hobby - was one the one that found those “pipes.” Good for her. Luckily for us, the front of the boiler just pops off; I was about to try and remove the smoke on/off and directions switches from the inside when we spotted the tab!
The light is soldered into the smoke UNIT’S on/off switch. I am awful at soldering to begin with; I can’t imagine being tired will assist. I am off to label all screws and loose wires, put everything well out of reach of my fleet of 0-2-0s, and call it a night. I’ll take up the soldering and reassembly this weekend when I can work outside with natural light. It’ll be in the low 70-s, but I will survive!
Oh, and Jon, I am probably willing to part with the whole undercarriage. Shipping out here can cost the same or more as parts, so I was thinking of using it as a source of spare parts myself. Hit me up privately, and I will mull it over. Maybe there is a trade in here somewhere that lets us both clear our shelves!
Thanks again everyone, and I will keep you posted on the repair. Keeping you posted keeps me honest!
Aloha,
Eric
P.S. I am assuming a drop of gear oil is in order before I seal “North Star” up, too. Also, Jon, I tried to PM you regarding the chassis’ fate, but lost a battle of wits to the forum.
Welcome! It was fun to participate.
Forgot to mention, you could actually see the plastic shavings from the gears inside the gear box. Wow…
Eric Mueller said:
Forgot to mention, you could actually see the plastic shavings from the gears inside the gear box. Wow…
Daaaang. (https://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-surprised.gif)
Longest/heaviest train I’m willing to regularly load my Big Haulers with is 5 Bachmann reefers and a 4-wheel caboose.
Or 4 passenger cars which do not use wheel wipers for light power - those things are like having the handbrake set.
The Annie opened up in that picture, I dunno yet. Haven’t bought/made anything for it to go with (and I’ve had it 8 years!)
other than a caboose from Bachmann’s large caboose kit with interior; but what to insert between it and loco has yet to be addressed.
Eric Mueller said:
Forgot to mention, you could actually see the plastic shavings from the gears inside the gear box. Wow…
Did you notice any grease on the gears? That may have been part of the problem.
Most of the newer models have a port on the bottom to access the gears for lubrication. With all the running mine do, I usually check it at least once a year. There’s usually plenty of grease still in there, just get’s scattered around inside the gear box.
Forrest Scott Wood said:
Eric Mueller said:
Forgot to mention, you could actually see the plastic shavings from the gears inside the gear box. Wow…
Daaaang. (https://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-surprised.gif)
Longest/heaviest train I’m willing to regularly load my Big Haulers with is 5 Bachmann reefers and a 4-wheel caboose.
Or 4 passenger cars which do not use wheel wipers for light power - those things are like having the handbrake set.
The Annie opened up in that picture, I dunno yet. Haven’t bought/made anything for it to go with (and I’ve had it 8 years!)
other than a caboose from Bachmann’s large caboose kit with interior; but what to insert between it and loco has yet to be addressed.
Yup, I have a 10 wheeler, its an older one, and she pulls the first train of the year, every year on my railroad. But I only run her with 3 coaches, and there are no wheel wipers on those coaches. So its a daylight train.
All,
Oldest Daughter and I swapped out the chassis on Saturday. Photo evidence and blow by blow to follow tomorrow! I am too blown from a day of decorating to play around with downloading, uploading, and linking photos just now…
Yes, the gears on the old one looked greased; I just dropped a bit of oil on the dry gears of the new chassis before buttoning it up. I did not add the extra weight; I never pull more then three cars due to the size of my railroad. It would just look stupid. There is not point in putting the extra stress on the thing.
The net result of all this is that “North Star” pulled her Christmas train as scheduled on the first day of Advent as scheduled, pulling revelers from Pu’u’oma’o to Haluku’ilio to kick off the Christmas season.
Have a great week!
Eric
Aloha,
I wanted to close the loop on this threat with photographic evidence of success. Not only do I have a rare chance to brag, it is my why of saying “Thanks!” I don’t often get to provide solutions, but I do want to acknowledge the help I get in overcoming problems.
Anyway, behold the gear-fetti in the old chassis:
We swapped out the foredeck above the pilot wheels on the two chassis, as “North Star” has two struts coming off the boiler that the new chassis did not accommodate. Easy. Then, after 4-5 attempts, I soldered the leads to the lights to the smoke generator switch. Soldering is not a forte…We then placed the boiler on the new chassis and did a quick test run to make sure the light worked and the directional switch worked. All went well, if only by dumb luck. Now all we had to do was screw the chassis back on. Simple, right?
No…the new chassis has a much more complex system of rods than the old one, and the screws were much harder to install. We dropped screws into the boiler and chassis multiple times, frequently necessitating the removal of other screws to remove the boiler and extract the errant one. Then I hit upon the idea of covering the holes in the side of the chassis. Novel, right? This allowed me to let my faithful assistant button up North Star (The Triple O has a strict policy that all crew have an opportunity to participate in major maintenance evolutions. They need only stay, however, as long as they are interested):
Oh, and yes, the air tanks were a pain in the [CENSORED], and the boiler and chassis take some cajoling to align. I was glad for an extra set of hands to jostle things into position as I got screws into their holes. I was also glad that someone with little fingers and better eyes was there to reattach all the pipes and railings!
Anyway, Oldest Daughter saw the project through, and poses below to show off her work:
You can see how much more complex the new chassis is relative to the older one. It looks and sounds a lot better, and I hope it proves more reliable and longer lived. I think, however, North Star will be a bit of a shelf queen and relegated to special occasions, despite her popularity with the crew. This will demand I find another prime mover. Darn…
Finally, as mentioned, North Star pulled out of Haluku’ilio bound for Pu’u’oma’o on schedule with the first Christmas train of the season:
The crew really love this engine, and I learned quite a bit from this experience, so thanks to all of you. Now to get my LGB 0-6-2T fixed…
Aloha,
Eric
Christmas Train?? Where’s the snow?..(https://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-cool.gif)(https://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)
Man, that had a good start on classifying as an epic adventure! (https://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-laughing.gif)
The chassis on the left in that 3rd picture looks more like a Big Hauler chassis as opposed to the Anniversary edition on the right. I have 2 of the original Big Haulers and neither one has all the valve gear that the Annies have.
The type of valve gear on any Bachmann ten wheeler is dependent on what RR is being represented. That is to say “Annies” go both ways. (https://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)
I know this is too late, but you could have just pushed that old 4-6-0 (without the drive gear) with the LGB powered tender!!
Joe Zullo said:
The type of valve gear on any Bachmann ten wheeler is dependent on what RR is being represented. That is to say “Annies” go both ways. (https://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)
Woah! I hope Rooster does not read about “Annie” (https://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-sealed.gif)
Post Script…My father-in-law, one of those types that sees gold in garbage, took the old chassis. He has ordered gears of the correct size off e-Bay and decided he could make a locomotive from random scraps in his work shop. I will post a picture if Franken-loco comes to pass!
Hauoli Makahiki Hou! Happy New Year!
Now to figure out how to use a foam cutter, a dremel, and tongue depressors to make something with a 42" bit of 2x4…
Eric