Does anyone know how to remove the trucks from the GP40. This is the version that the top half of the frame can be removed to expose the drive train and motor - I need to get in and clean the wheel pickups and chassis pickups.
That's the one that has pins holding the truck in, right? It's been a while since I've even looked at one of those old Bachmanns but, if memory serves, I think you just push the pin out with a tiny screw driver or something. (Someone correct me if I'm wrong.) Note that the pin also hold the top gear in. So be careful don't loose that. Here's Spookshow's review of the B-mann GP40: http://www.spookshow.net/loco/bachgp40.html
The GP40,GP50 and GE U36B trucks will pop off if one uses minimal pressure to the truck frame otherwise one could use a Jewelers / Hobbyists -the philips head screwdriver- to remove one side of the split frame then one my remove the truck and the contact strips for cleaning. If cleaning the contacts I would go the screwdriver route which may be easier.. Repeat for GP50,GE U36B and F9A. www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/dwg/dwgs/N_SCALE_GP40.pdf www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/dwg/dwgs/N_SCALE_GP50.pdf www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/dwg/dwgs/N_SCALE_GE_U36-B.pdf www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/dwg/dwgs/N_SCALE_EMD_F9.pdf These other two links have Reference Manuals as well. N Scale Parts and N-Scale Diagrams - Literature Page 49 Tom
GimpLizard & Jtomstarr - Thank you both for your responses. My GP40 is the second production version, the frame isn't side by side as the current versions (and in the Bachmann diagrams) but a top and bottom frame arrangement, like a sandwich. Removal of the top frame only exposes the motor, drive shaft and the worm gears not how the trucks are suspended or how to get at the power contacts for cleaning. For reference in spookshow it is the second frame from the bottom. Again, Thank You very much.
Oldjohn, Would you care to share a photograph of the locomotive with shell on and with the shell separated from the shell, in order to give us a better idea of your attempt. Tom
Tom, Right now my digital camera has stopped taking pictures so I can't, but if you go to spookshow Bachmann GP40 he shows all the frames made for that model, mine is the second from the bottom. The bottom half is black pot metal and the upper half is gray pot metal, the frames are not side by side but top half and bottom half.
That's the one that's held with the pin. Just push it out from either side and the truck will come out. Not a bad chassis for it's time, but a bit noisy with the metal gears. It'll pull like crazy, and run until the motor goes.
To All, again that you for your responses. I was in the middle of trying to extract the metal pin when the entire truck "popped" out (pin still in), nothing broken, it seems with this version, Bachmann has tapered the shoulders where the truck sits, and with downward pressure the truck comes out. To replace it just cant the truck to one side and pop it back in. I took both trucks off and reinstalled them several times to make sure it wasn't an accident. This version you apply downward pressure to one side of the truck and out i comes, reverse the procedure and back in it goes. While the trucks were out I did remove the metal pin removed the large drive gear, cleaned all the gears and contacts and it runs like new. Thank You all very much for your help!
