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Engine Repairs – How To Remove The Cover
John asks readers:
“How do I dismantle an HO engine to find out why it makes a grinding noise but does not move on the track. I cannot figure out how to remove the engine cover/body. Thanks in advance, John.
Add your answer to help John.
4 Responses to Engine Repairs – How To Remove The Cover
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Definitely sounds like a gear/teeth problem, what make and model is this John?
Hello John,
That depends on the locomotive / manufacturer. First suggestion is to try the manufacturer’s website where they may have instructions for removing the body.
For diesels they are mostly snap-fit with perhaps the couplers needing removal.
Good Luck!
john, when i need to remove the body from a train or carriage i CAREFULLY use a hair dryer to slightly soften the plastic castings. this helps to prevent potential cracking.
The Athearn desiels generally have pins the stick down through holes under the frame and just put a fine flat screw driver in to shift the clips to release the bodies. Some have pins on the edge of the frame that stick into the lower body casting. Just gently with a thin flat screw driver spread the body just enough to slip the body off. Many bodies also need the couplers and or the box mounts to be removed in order to pull the body. Some will have small screws on the bottom sometimes hidden by the wheel trucks that have to be removed and yes these usually have to have the couplers removed too, I have also had bodies that have a combination of things to remove them. These engines be gentle as you don’t want to break hidden clips from Newman