Hi all, I have an Atlas gp38 that I would like to change out the truck covers. I currently have a gp38 with gp38-2 trucks and I found a pair of complete set of the correct trucks that I ordered. Is it easier to just change out the covers or the complete truck? Thanks, Ralph
If I'm looking at the exploded diagram right, you have to remove the trucks to replace the sideframes, as the two sideframes and the lower gear cover are all one part on these. Since you have to remove the trucks before you disassemble them, obviously it's easier to just replace the trucks. Remove the body from the frame, and lay the frame on its side with the screw heads visible. It looks like you have two small bearing retainers over the trucks and one long contact strip up top to remove. Remove the two screws and carefully pull the two halves of the frame apart. Watch carefully as you do, to make sure no other small parts are connected to both sides of the frame, and to see whether the motor and worm gears are staying seated in one side of the frame. Note the alignment of the trucks so you don't install the new ones backwards, and carefully pull the old trucks out of the semicircular indentation in the frame. Install the new ones and reinstall the worm gears, carefully meshing those with the large gears protruding from the trucks. Press the frame rails carefully together, making sure the motor, trucks and worm gears are all lined back up in their original positions. Do not even think of tightening those screws down if the frame rails will not press back together with only gentle pressure. If you use the screws to torque them into place, you will cause binding that will prevent it from running, and possibly crush several vital parts. If they will not press back together, pull them back apart and get everything lined up right. When everything is back in place, including the bushing retainers (the bushings are the square things the worm gears rotate in), reinstall the screws and the long, thin metal contact strip. The exploded drawing is not the best I've seen at showing what goes where, but it shows all the parts. You can find it on the manufacturer's website. PLEASE NOTE that I have never owned one of these things in my life. There may be tricks I don't know about. Indeed, it may be possible to remove the sideframe/bottom covers without unscrewing the frame and removing the trucks. I piped up in case no one else does, and this method is safe. If someone does show up who actually has one of these, ignore what I said and take their advice.
Acptulsa, Thank you very much for the research and reply! I really appreciate it. I had to replace a replace a gp38-2 shell with a gp38 shell that I had on hand which works great, but I wanted to change out the emd type "m" side frames to type "b" so the locomotive would have the correct trucks. I had never had done this before and thought it would not hurt to seek some advice. Thanks again, Ralph
You don't have to completely take the frame apart. You can loosen the frame screws one at a time to remove the truck. You might have to use a very small flat blade screwdriver to spread the frame slightly so that the truck will release. I usually don't take both trucks off at the same time. It is much easier to just replace the entire truck than to try to replace the sideframe assembly while it is installed on the frame. Once the truck is off the frame, you will find that is quite easy to take apart for maintenance. Just place the truck on a hard flat surface and push down on the four corners at the same time. When putting the truck back together, make sure that the copper pickups are positioned properly and that the axle points are in the cups on the copper pickup. After you put the truck together, you should try rolling it across your workbench or other flat surface. If it doesn't roll easily it isn't properly put together. It can take a few tries for you to figure out how to put it together properly, but once you do, you won't have any more problems doing it in the future. Mark
http://mysite.mweb.co.za/residents/grela/atlaskatotruck.html Some pictures here that might also help.
Mark, thanks for the good news and Locomotion, thanks for the photos to go with it. I really appreciate the help from the three of you. I have not been in N scale long enough to have done a lot of maintenance or major surgery so I really am thankful for the help. Ralph
