[HOFAN]

I have 4 different locomotives I have bought off of ebay. Each has different drive trucks. I want to take them apart, clean and lube and reassemble. I have not been able to determine exactly how to take them apart and I don't want to screw them up.

Is there any place or book that I can reference to determine what kind of trucks I have and how to take apart and reassemble?

Any help is appreciated. I am new to working on locomotives so I am treading lightly. Also, all 4 of the loco's are diesal. One is the spirit of 76, two are Southern Railway and one is Rock Island Line.

 

[Tom_C]

Post pics, and manufacturer and model #s.

 

[HOFAN]

Disassemble Power Trucks

TomC, thanks for the fast response. I will do my best to get the pics and information you listed and post in the next couple of days. Multitasking right now between trains, front yard, car and back yard.

 

[HOFAN]

Disassemble Power Trucks

Here are the photos (upright and on it's side showing trucks). I have renamed to keep them together. The Southern loco is by Bachmann, the spirit of 76 is by AHM and the Rock Island is by Tyco. That's all the info I can find on the locomotives themselves.

Hope this helps.

 

[HOFAN]

How to dissamble trucks

OK everyone, I figured out two of the tree locomotive trucks. I still need some assistance with the Rock Island Line trucks. I got them out of the shell but they seem to have some kind of circular count that I have not figured out how to remove it.

Would appreciate some instructions on how to remove the ring and open the drive gear compartment.

By the way,, I cleaned and lubed the Spirit of 76 loco and it is running like a new one. I have the Southern loco completely apart soaking in alcohol. Later today I will blow dry, clean contacts, lube, oil and reassemble. Hope it runs like the spirit of 76.

 

[J.Albert1949]

In many (most?) cases, you're going to have to:
- remove the couplers
- remove the shell
- remove the weights
- disconnect some wiring
- remove the cover that snaps over the worm gear

Then, the truck can be "dropped away".

 

[HOFAN]

How to dissamble trucks

On this particular engine (tyco) I was able to snap the truck assibly out of the shell easily. So now the truck is sitting outside the shell with some kind of ring that must be removed before I can open the gearbox. (see photo).

 

[HOFAN]

Disasseble Drive Trucks

OK, let's try this again with better photos. I have this TYCO locomotive and need to take apart the drive truck. I have the truck out of the shell but can't figure out how to proceed with taking it apart. There is a "ring" of sorts around the motor that is the attachment to the shell and allows the truck to "turn". How do I proceed to remove this "ring" and completely take the truck/motor apart? (see two photos).

 

[Dennis461]

Why take it apart? The gears are exposed. Put a drop of oil on them, it's a $10 locomotive.

 

[HOFAN]

Disasseble Drive Trucks

Why take it apart? Because the motor runs but the loco doesn't move. Pretty sure there is a stripped/broken gear in there somewhere.