Athearn BB F7B HEEEEELP!!!!!

[Anonymous]

Jeremy,
Don't know what details you added so here's a couple you should consider. JayBee and NWSL offer metal wheelset replacements for the stock plastic wheels on the Athearn dummy. American Limited has an F unit coupling kit that shortens the distance between the units. Both are good upgrades.

[BRVRR]

I have ten or twelve of the F7s, mostly powered, one even has sound. I just pu***he brake lever into the truck a little farther. I didn't know there was an 'up' or 'down' to the brake cyliners. You learn something everyday. Thanks Jimrice4449. That number didn't come from an SP Daylight did it?.[:D]

[jimrice4449]

The little rod that exits the brake cylinder is the brake lever and there's an up side down and a right side up to it. If you have them reversed, putting the lever through the slot on the truck frame causes the cylinder to be too high. One way to check is to look at the mounted brake cylinder from the side. If it's correctly mounted the cylinder and brake rod and lever will all be parallel to the ground.

[Anonymous]

This problem is rampant on Athearn Fs.

THe problem is the the little rod and slide (Help with proper technicle term) molding that exits the brake cyliner hits the ladder, thus hindering rotation. I just removed that item, and the trucks now run fine. I am the proud owner of 12 Athearn Fs and have had to fix this problem on ALL of them

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by mstein

It sounds like the brake cylinders are bumping a ladder. Pry off a side frame and see if that helps give more rotation. The fix is simple if this is the case. A little judicous filing on the backside of the ladder. I ran into this on my R-T-R Athearn Dummy F-7B.

Thanks. Alot better idea then cutting and moving.

Thanks,
Jeremy

[Anonymous]

It sounds like the brake cylinders are bumping a ladder. Pry off a side frame and see if that helps give more rotation. The fix is simple if this is the case. A little judicous filing on the backside of the ladder. I ran into this on my R-T-R Athearn Dummy F-7B.

[Anonymous]

It's just a dummy but the trucks turn fine without the shell. I checked the trucks and they are on correct. I even took them off and tried it that way but the same results. It's like the ladders for a door are positioned correctly and the brake cylinders bump into them. I really don't want to cut the ladders off and move them but if I have to I will.

Thanks,
Jeremy

[Anonymous]

Did you remove the trucks? If so, maybe they were put on backwards. Worth a look.

Bob Boudreau

[Anonymous]

Does it run without the shell?

[Anonymous]

Ok I have an Athearn F7 B unit I just finished painting, decaling and weatheing. When I put the shell on the trucks won't turn. This is my first model of this engine so I have no idea how to fix it. The brake cylinders are blocked by the steps off of the body. Please help as I spend several hours working on this and want to run it and I have another yet to do. Thanks for any help or ideas.

Thanks,
Jeremy