How do you dissassemble a Bachmann Center Cab

r_i_straw Nov 24, 2019

  1. r_i_straw

    r_i_straw Mostly N Scale Staff Member

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    I have a Whitcomb?center cab diesel that I can not detect a decoder in. It says DCC on Board on the bottom and runs on DC ok. I just want to get it apart and can't figure out how to get the shell off. I have searched on line and come up with nothing.
     
  2. Hardcoaler

    Hardcoaler TrainBoard Member

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    Is it their 44-Tonner? If so, Spookshow instructs to "simply spread the sides apart to free it from the three "bumps" on each side of the chassis". Two chassis "bumps" are centered above each truck and the third one is at the center side of the fuel tank.

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  3. mtntrainman

    mtntrainman TrainBoard Supporter

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    Do it the easy way....



    (y)(y)(y)(y)(y):whistle:
     
  4. r_i_straw

    r_i_straw Mostly N Scale Staff Member

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    Nope, not the locomotive in question.
     
  5. r_i_straw

    r_i_straw Mostly N Scale Staff Member

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    I tried all that, and no joy. Shell will not budge. The sides do not spread easy at all and I am afraid I will break something.
     
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  6. mtntrainman

    mtntrainman TrainBoard Supporter

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    Hmmmmmmm...I have yet to find any diesel locomotive that the shell wont release doing it with that method. :cautious::whistle:
     
  7. r_i_straw

    r_i_straw Mostly N Scale Staff Member

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    OK, after I took the couplers off, I was able to wedge a small flat blade under the trucks from the ends. Using the ends of the shell as a fulcrum, I was able to pry each end up a little at a time under the trucks until I got the mechanism all the way out. Yes it does have the three bumps on each side as described above but things were so tight on this particular locomotive, it was hard to move the shell at all.
     
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  8. r_i_straw

    r_i_straw Mostly N Scale Staff Member

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    I have an old Atlasmaster DCC system that I was able to program the decoder with a two digit address. My Digitrax says there is not decoder on the program track but will run the locomotive on the system using the address I was able to program in.
     
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  9. dualgauge

    dualgauge TrainBoard Member

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    Would a small resistor laid across the track, make the Digitrax system read and program the decoder. People with more knowhow would know the size to use. I believe Digitrax has to have more of a load to read the Bachmann decoders.
     
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  10. MK

    MK TrainBoard Member

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  11. Hardcoaler

    Hardcoaler TrainBoard Member

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    I continue to be frustrated by the difficulty of removing N Scale locomotive shells in this era. Sure, you can drop an end on a box, stick toothpicks into select positions, grip and wiggle the shell, pry with a screwdriver and hope to escape damage, but manufacturers should make this aspect of ownership a whole lot easier.

    Why the razor-tight fit? Why are the nubs so pronounced? Why not instead use a few screws underneath? With all of their focus on detail, smooth operation and sound, manufacturers have ignored something so basic as accessibility.
     

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