BLI Santa Fe 3751 Tender Shell Removal

[andrechapelon]

I'm rather embarrassed to ask this, but I'm damned if I can figure out how to remove the tender shell on my BLI Santa Fe 4-8-4 so I can replace the faulty flash memory sound card with the replacement BLI sent me.

They've got instructions on how to remove the boiler. Why not the tender shell?

Boy is my face red.[:I][banghead][censored]

Andre

[twhite]

Andre: If the 3751 is the same as the other BLI locos, the tender shell is a press-fit that pries off. I know my N&W 2-6-6-4 has this kind of tender, and so do the Pennsy Mountains and 2-10-4. The instructions I recieved was to grasp the frame and gently pry the shell off beginning with the front. You're right, it didn't come with the BLI instructions, but I read it in the MR review. Don't be embarrassed, I had to contact BLI when I got MY 3751 to find out how to change stacks. I thought I was going to have to saw the original stack off and superglue the extended one on. Duh!

[Anonymous]

Andre, it´s press fitted.

I must remove mine for the eprom replace too, was a work, including the eprom replace of only 5 minutes.

[andrechapelon]

Gents, thanks for the advice. I'll give it a try.

BTW, twhite, how DO you swap out the stacks?


Andre

[andrechapelon]

QUOTE: Originally posted by andrechapelon

Gents, thanks for the advice. I'll give it a try.

BTW, twhite, how DO you swap out the stacks?


Andre

Well, THAT was easy. Thanks again.

Andre

[twhite]

Andre: Stacks--Needlenose pliers and a LOT of pressure. They don't pop out easy, let me tell you. But that stack-extender gives it a very unique look.
Tom

[andrechapelon]

QUOTE: Originally posted by twhite

Andre: Stacks--Needlenose pliers and a LOT of pressure. They don't pop out easy, let me tell you. But that stack-extender gives it a very unique look.
Tom

Thanks, Tom. I don't know whether or not I'll replace the stack with extended stack or not, but you're right, with the stack extended, SF engines had a rather unique look.

I guess I'm not a "rivet counter", but I sure am an exhaust counter. That 3 exhausts per rev. on the original BLI chip drove me nuts. I could live with the minor physical inaccuracies (most of which aren't really visible unless you're up close and personal), but I absolutely demand 4 exhausts/rev from a 2 cylinder rod drive engine if it's sound equipped. Now that my model of #3751 is synchronized correctly, I'm in hog heaven. It's a really smooth runner and will slow to a crawl even though not fully broken in yet.

I can't wait for the 3800 2-10-2's. Wonder if they'll ever make a variant that uses the 20,000 gallon tender.

Andre

[twhite]

Andre: I'm on the same IWL (impatient Waiting List) as you for the 2-10-2. Had an old PFM model of it back when I was young, stupid and impatient, I kit-bashed it into a Rio Grande F-81 (don't ask!). Now I want a REAL Santa Fe Santa Fe. And one that, I hope, if BLI stays true to form, will sound like a Thompson sub-machine gun when it gets going. I watched one on Tehacapi when I was a kid, and that was the LOUDEST rat-tat-tat-loco I ever remember hearing. Funny, I never noticed the 3-cycle chuff on 3751 until you made this post, now it's driving me nuts! Looks like I have to do the same thing you did.
Tom

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by twhite

Andre: I'm on the same IWL (impatient Waiting List) as you for the 2-10-2. Had an old PFM model of it back when I was young, stupid and impatient, I kit-bashed it into a Rio Grande F-81 (don't ask!). Now I want a REAL Santa Fe Santa Fe. And one that, I hope, if BLI stays true to form, will sound like a Thompson sub-machine gun when it gets going. I watched one on Tehacapi when I was a kid, and that was the LOUDEST rat-tat-tat-loco I ever remember hearing. Funny, I never noticed the 3-cycle chuff on 3751 until you made this post, now it's driving me nuts! Looks like I have to do the same thing you did.
Tom

Tom, call BLI and request a replacement memory chip. The chuff rate is more accurate and slow speed control becomes better. I ordered my right after I got 3751. All they ask is that you send the old chips back to BLI.

[andrechapelon]

QUOTE: Originally posted by BoRockhard

QUOTE: Originally posted by twhite

Andre: I'm on the same IWL (impatient Waiting List) as you for the 2-10-2. Had an old PFM model of it back when I was young, stupid and impatient, I kit-bashed it into a Rio Grande F-81 (don't ask!). Now I want a REAL Santa Fe Santa Fe. And one that, I hope, if BLI stays true to form, will sound like a Thompson sub-machine gun when it gets going. I watched one on Tehacapi when I was a kid, and that was the LOUDEST rat-tat-tat-loco I ever remember hearing. Funny, I never noticed the 3-cycle chuff on 3751 until you made this post, now it's driving me nuts! Looks like I have to do the same thing you did.
Tom

Tom, call BLI and request a replacement memory chip. The chuff rate is more accurate and slow speed control becomes better. I ordered my right after I got 3751. All they ask is that you send the old chips back to BLI.

They didn't ask for the old chip back off my 3751, so that might not be an issue.

Andre