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Help with disassembly of Bachmann Spectrum K4 (First Release)

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  • Member since
    June 2013
  • 35 posts
Help with disassembly of Bachmann Spectrum K4 (First Release)
Posted by ChristianJDavis1 on Wednesday, August 7, 2013 11:06 PM
I have recently aquired an HO scale, Bachmann Spectrum K4 locomotive from the original run (black "Pennsy pacific" box), and am completely clueless as to how to open this thing (being an N scale modeler does not help). Any assistance with removing the shell from the mechanism would be appreciated.
  • Member since
    January 2003
  • From: Brisbane Australia
  • 568 posts
Posted by Alantrains on Thursday, August 8, 2013 1:26 AM

Christian,

I found 2 of these when I started cleaning out my deceased Fathers train stuff. Unfortunately both are damaged, but it looks like the screw holding the drawbar to the tender needs to be removed completely from the engine. Hopefully the body can then be lifted off from the cab end. Both mine are damaged at the front so be careful with the wires that come up from the pilot into the smokebox. There isn't any evidence of a screw in the front on mine. The mechanism inside is a split frame.  Once cleaned and lubricated (and provided the rods don't bind) it should run well.

HTH

Alan J

Alan Jones in Sunny Queensland (Oz)

 

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  • From: A Comfy Cave, New Zealand
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Posted by "JaBear" on Thursday, August 8, 2013 2:40 AM

Gidday Christian, You didn't say if you had the parts diagram/ exploded view, if you haven't,here"s a link to the hoseeker site, I suspect that this is your loco...............

http://hoseeker.org/assemblyexplosionbachmann/Bachmannspectrum462k4pg2.jpg

By the way I would have thought that an Nscaler would have the advantage of having had worked on smaller locos, than the likes of myself. Smile, Wink & Grin

Good luck, Cheers, the Bear.

"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."

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Posted by ChristianJDavis1 on Thursday, August 8, 2013 7:18 AM
Thank you to those who responded. I managed to get the screws off with no problem, but I still cannot seem to get the mechanism out of the shell. Is there a specific way to get the mechanism out if the shell?
  • Member since
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  • From: Pittsburgh, PA
  • 145 posts
Posted by parts323 on Thursday, August 8, 2013 8:01 AM

The screw at the drawbar should be all that holds the first generation K4 locomotives together. To take the later versions apart, I believe the screw that holds the pilot truck on also has to come out. I would just hold the frame and drivers in one hand and the boiler in the other and gently pull them apart.

  • Member since
    January 2003
  • From: Brisbane Australia
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Posted by Alantrains on Thursday, August 8, 2013 8:17 AM

OK, I just opened the second K4 which I had on a display on the wall.

There are no other screws to remove. I slid a small screwdriver from the side under the cab right in line with that screw you removed. Give a little twist, then do the same from the opposite side. Continue until you feel the body move away from the chassis. There is a plastic protrusion on the body that fits into a matching hole on the chassis where that screw goes in. It's a tight fit and you just need to lever it out. These photos might help.

Hopefully this will help.

cheers from downunder

Alan J

Alan Jones in Sunny Queensland (Oz)

 

  • Member since
    July 2006
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Posted by locoi1sa on Thursday, August 8, 2013 5:02 PM

 I pray every day I break even, Cause I can really use the money!

 I started with nothing and still have most of it left!

  • Member since
    June 2013
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Posted by ChristianJDavis1 on Friday, August 9, 2013 10:21 PM
Okay, I tried the method with the screwdriver to no avail, as only the plastic portion of the frame came loose, leaving the metal frame in the shell. I tried putting it all back together, putting the screws in (except the drawbar screw), and trying again; which resulted in just the plastic moving instead of both.
  • Member since
    January 2003
  • From: Brisbane Australia
  • 568 posts
Posted by Alantrains on Saturday, August 10, 2013 2:40 AM

Hi Christian,

This is turning out to be very difficult. I only needed to take out the drawbar screw. Here's a couple more photos that might help. I noticed that my 2 locos are slightly different. One has a PC board in the boiler for making the headlight connection, the other just uses wires, but both just need the same one screw removed to lift the body off.

The round plastic protrusion can be seen under the cab. It fits into the chassis and the screw then holds them together.

There is a hole in the flat part of the chassis above the rear pony truck that the body fits into. Mine was stuck a bit, but the twist of the screwdriver loosened it.

That's about all I can add.

cheers

Alan

Alan Jones in Sunny Queensland (Oz)

 

  • Member since
    August 2019
  • 25 posts
Posted by Trainguy1988 on Friday, February 16, 2024 7:36 PM

Hello,

I realize this is a bit late, but I have a Bachmann Spectrum K4 that I purchased about 10 years ago, and was wondering if there was a way to remove the drawbar/increase the distance between the tender and locomotive, as it seems the tender on mine is following a little too closely behind and causing frequent derailments.

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