I,ve recently acquired my first Athearn Engine.Its a HO MP15AC /sound.The gears are a little noisy so I would like to remove the trucks,look for flash on the gears and give them the pearl drop treatment.I would like to know how to remove the trucks. Thanks i
As with other manufacturers, Athearn does not include a manual that´s worth being called a manual. I did get an exploded view with my MP15AC, but I could not see, how to remove the trucks, as my loco was quite noisy as well. I solved the issue with a drop of lubricant (LaBelle), without dismantling the trucks.
If it's like the older ones, it's pretty simple. Pry out on the body at the point where the body and frame meet. The body should pull right off as soon as you find the tabs (different location on each model). Look for the point on top of the truck where the drive shaft goes in. This is the location of the worm. Remove the worm retainer by prying out the sides until it pops off. The truck should just drop out.
Be careful not to lose the thrust washers, if there are any, from the worm shaft.