I am trying to remove the shell from my Three Truck Bachmann Shay and have run into a problem. I have taken the trucks off, have removed the tender and the boiler, Have removed two small screws from a box on the bottom of the frame. There is a tiny screw that loos like it is connected to the drive which I do not want to fool with. I have run out of Screws to take out and the frame is still on. I now have no clue. PLEASE HELP.
Harold
I assume you mean the cab? I could explain it, but this is easier.
http://www.all-model-railroading.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=4677
"The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination."-Albert Einstein
http://gearedsteam.blogspot.com/
Getting the shell off is a little complex, but it's completely possible. Here's a picture showing what needs to come off:
The first thing that needs to come off is the 3-cylinder "engine" on the side, which is held on by two screws. The screws are easiest to access if you pop a couple of the plastic rods off the crankshaft first.
Next comes the front truck. There is a small PC board between the frame and truck for electrical pickup, and there's a screw hidden underneath it.
I think the two screws with the yellow arrows pointing to them are optional (it's been a while since I took this picture). If I remember right, these hold the gear cover on. There's another screw under the gear cover which can be accessed without removing the cover, but it's a little bit easier to get to with the cover removed (unless you have a magnetic screwdriver).
Then there's one or two more screws under the right side of the cab. These are easy to get to.
The last step is to loosen the cab handrails from the frame so that the cab can be removed. Everything should come right off after this. Then to get it back together, just do everything in reverse. Hope this helps!
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Thanks for the photo's. They are great. Unfortunatly this causes another problem. I wanted to take the frame off to run the engine without it. I am getting a High Pitch Whine from the engine which increases with speed. Several suggestions is to run it without the frame and listen to where the noise is coming from. According to the picture when you remove the Ashpan you also remove part of the engine. NOT GOOD. I guess I will look for Plan B.
I think you can still leave the ashpan/gear cover on when removing the shell. Taking it off just makes access to another screw a little easier.
If you're getting a squeeling noise, I would try oiling all the gear and motor shaft bearings first. My guess is the problem is most likely the motor. Bachmann uses very cheap bearings, which are sometimes prone to making a lot of noise and don't always retain oil very well.
That's what I wanted to see. Bachmann will replace the Engine but said they do not have a motor for the Shay. They want to replace with a Climax. I heard they had a problem with the Climax and they are not making them for the current year. Any thoughts.
The following is from the link you sent me. Pardon my ignorance but this is the first time I have opened one up.
1. Are we talking about the shaft on the side of the motor that the wires are connected to?
2. As far as the Bearing Cap. Are we talking about the washer looking ring around that shaft? Is so, how do you get it off?
After oiling all the bearings, it was still a little noisy. I discovered that by removing the bearing cap covering the drive shaft, I could better get at the front motor bearing to oil it. That really quieted everything down. It runs so quietly now that I can hear the clicking of the valves and pistons.
Good to hear you got it quieted down.
Also here is a link to replacement can motors
http://www.nwsl.com/motors-power-drives/quick-reference-chart
Springfield PA
I have not done it yet. The Blue Note is from a tread on the first Website. See Questions Above.
I see
I'm sure between that and greasing the gears it will quiet down.
I still need an answer to the questions listed above. The Blue is portion is from another tread. I am trying to find out where these bearings and cap the person talks about are.
Thanks
I know one helpful thing: The front of the boiler comes off and there is a screw inside.
~G4
19 Years old, modeling the Cowlitz, Chehalis, and Cascade Railroad of Western Washington in 1927 in 6X6 feet.