need help to disassemble athearn gp60m truck

[Anonymous]

how in the world do u take these trucks apart. how does the cover come off? i have deduced that i have a problem w/ the bushing contacts (engine stutters) and need to get in there and clean out. any done this before?

thanks, hookipa[:(!][:(!]

[balearic]

First question: Are the wheels clean, and is the track clean?

Second question: Once the wheels and track are clean, does it still stutter?

Third question: Did you remove the truck from the chassis? If not, do that by removing the shell, and then, using small screwdrivers such as those sold by Radio Shack, remove the worm gear cover from the top of the truck. You may have to wiggle the worm free from the truck and/or the universal joint so the truck will come off. Be careful not to lose anything from the worm assembly! (You may also want to add a washer or two to the end of the worm during reassembly, to cut down the play, which will help with any bucking problems you may have.) Next, remove the truck sideframes. Next, there are two clips on top of the truck, one at either end, almost in line with the axles. Use your screwdrivers to do this. Finally, pop off the bottom plate of the truck by prying the tabs apart from the top side. Once this is done, you can disassemble your truck and deburr the gears, lubricate everything with LaBelle grease, etc. (Some guys use Pearl Drops on their Athearn gears to poli***he teeth, but I've never done that.) Once you're satisfied, reassemble everything in reverse order and give her a test run.

Also, if this is an older Athearn engine, you may want to replace the wheels with some from NorthWest Short Line. They provide better contact and have a better appearance than the old wheels -- but remember to use an NMRA gauge so they're spaced correctly when you're finished. You may also want to poli***he bearing surfaces with a contact cleaning fiberglass brush (the little thing that looks like a pencil). Finally, you may want to solder a wire from one truck to the other, with a lead down to the clip on top of the motor; and a second wire between the clip on the bottom of the motor to a screw or rivet that's secured to the frame. I think one of the hobby magazines even had a book 10-15 years ago showing how to do a lot of this stuff, but I can't recall which one, nor do I know if it's still in print.

I hope that helps.

[Anonymous]

thx for the response balearic. yes, wheels and track are very clean. still stutters all over the place. all my other engines (atlas masters & genesis) work great. once i get this apart, i have been advised (from the atlas HO forum guys) to clean out the square notches because athearn paints these and the paint interferes w/ the connectivity. i guess i see it tonite and try and fix it. if i cant, it goes back to athearn for a replacement. do u ahve any experience with this stuff?

thx, andy

[Anonymous]

Here is a link that I found last year on the disassembly of Athearn trucks. You might find it very informative, I did.
Brad
http://www.rrdepot.com/content.php?article.5

[Anonymous]

I'm sorry you will need this link too. Athearn "Tune Up".
Brad
http://www.rrdepot.com/content.php?article.4