I recently bought an Atlas GP-38 and a NCE drop-in DCC decoder for it. The installation seems pretty straight forward, but I was trying to separate the locomotive frame and noticed that the plastic motor saddle is keeping the two haves together. This is the first time I have tried to install a decoder. What is the easiest way to separate the frame? Any other advice? Thanks.
Modeling the Maine Central in N scale.
I am guessing that you are working with an N scale unit? The plastic motor frame is held to the metal frame half's with two small clips that fit into small square holes on each frame half. Sometimes the flash on the frames are not very clean and can bind on the motor frames tabs. Need to work them loose with a small screw driver or something that you can fit into the small holes to free up. Clean up the holes before you put it back together as it will help to get it back together.
Good deal! Don't forget to clean the small holes up a bit. It sure makes it a lot easier to get back together.