Hi fellow forumers, Due to a scratched window on my Katy, Kato USA has sent me a package #921615 N SD70ACe Glass Set as part of the warranty. Since I never disassemble a SD70ACe before, I tried my hardest to search on the Internet without result. I even contacted Kato USA but they said they don't have instructions... Has anyone tried and successfully taken the windows apart? If you did, please share.
Looks like this loco is more complex then any other Kato has manufactured so far. I love to take locos apart and see how they are put together but with this Kato has made the shell more complex to take apart. I got the bottom of the shell apart and this is also part of the hand rail but the front part the cab looks like its a thin plastic wrapping that is the cab and its over the shell itself. I don't wanna pry to much more cause I'm afraid I will break something. I have to say this shell is also a lot thiner then any other shells Kato has. But here goes Pic one the bottom of the shell is also the railing so use a very small screw driver flat head and pry the four points clips from bottom. Next pic two remove the left walkway by prying it very gently. Next the front has points where you can pry up wards as shown with screw driver as in pic three. Pic four remove the bottom of the grab iron as shown. Pic five (next post) pull cab apart as shown but there are two small clips inside holding the cab as marked in pic pry these very carefully. Now you should have the cab apart from body.
Next what the shell looks like apart. And finally how to remove the window as marked in pic it has two points that holds the window in place pull the cab apart gently and this plastic will come out. When you get the windows out make sure in the last pic that you don't lose the head light piece this is a separately applied piece and can fall out easily so make sure not to lose it. I hope this helps you out.
Wow amazing details. I will try to do it tonight when I am home. Thanks for the images and I will try to post the result.
Thanks once again N-Builder. It took me about 45 minutes but it was worth it in the end. Yes, you are so right about the headlight portion. And I got to comment that Kato has amazing flexibility in its plastic train parts. I wonder if there is the secret ingredient! Anyways, here are my pictures. I think it might be interesting for the forum to create a thread purely for disassembly or maintenance of trains and engines. I think a lot of us would be benefited by that and will certainly stand out from other forum groups. Just an idea.
Your Kato Katy looks great to2leo I'm glad I could help you out it also took me a while to take this shell apart like I said Kato did a very fine but intricate job with this shell. I always take apart all my locos not at once just in case I have to service one in the future then I know what to do.
Thanks to you both for the question and the detailed answer. I own a pair of these locos and the headlight and ditch light lenses are amber, making the lights look dim and orange. I recently learned that Kato sells clear lenses for this model and since I live less than 15 minutes from their US office, I drove over to pick some up. For feat of breaking things, there is no way I would have been able to figure out all the steps needed to disassemble this shell! Thanks to your efforts, I now have locos with brighter, more natural looking lights. Thanks!
