Bachmann Tender Disassembly

[strummer]

How to?

I'd like to hook up one of these to my Trix K4, and need to be able to run wires inside the tender itself...

Mark in Oregon

[M.C. Fujiwara]

Which Bmann tender?
Most have a metal base with a plastic tender shell on them.
Most shells can be pulled off with fingers doing a little wiggling.
If not, insert a thin flathead screwdriver between the two and gentle pry up (careful not to scratch the metal).
Most shells also have a space under the fireman's platform (in front of the coal doors) for wires to enter the tender.

That said, if all you need is electrical pickup, you can hardwire the stiff tender drawbar wires directly to the motor / frame.

[strummer]

I'm thinking of the Spectrum Medium tender. It looks to me like it's all molded in one piece...

Mark in Oregon

[mike_lawyer]

Just take a small screwdriver, put it between the tender floor and the plastic frame at the front of the tender.  There is a triangular slot area.  The shell should pop right off.

[strummer]

Just take a small screwdriver, put it between the tender floor and the plastic frame at the front of the tender.  There is a triangular slot area.  The shell should pop right off.

Mike

I took a really close look at mine, and there is no "triangular" area you mention. All the way around the frame and body, it looks like a single casting.

This is the tender that came with a Spectrum 2-8-0 I purchased a while back...

Mark in Oregon

[Chris333]

If it is from the 2-8-0 you have to remove the truck screws, they hold the shell down to the frame.

[strummer]

If it is from the 2-8-0 you have to remove the truck screws, they hold the shell down to the frame.

Chris

I took off the trucks, and I still don't see how this all is supposed to come apart. I managed to break off the back piece of the coal bunker,and there's a wide slot visable there, but a bit of careful prying still yields nothing.

This is doing wonders for my confidence level...

Mark in Oregon

[Chris333]

Ahhh crap it has been a while. I just did this.

Unscrew the rear truck, but don't take the screw all the way out. Push the screw in and that will push the top of the tender out. Only the top comes off not the whole shell.

[Mark.S+10]

Mark,

The tender has a metal base that the trucks screw into.  The base also has a raised portion that the top press fits onto.  The top part of the tender is plastic, think of it as a box without flaps-complete on all four sides with a complete bottom.  Turn the box over and place it on the metal base.  The rear truck screw goes through the base and into a pedistal on the tender shell.  Remove the rear truck screw and there is nothing holding the top of the tender to the base except the press fit.  Put a small flat blade screw driver between the shell and the base and lever the shell up or re-insert the rear truck screw in part way with the rear truck removed and push up on the rear truck screw.  If you are using a long range tender you will also need to remove the two small screws that hold the coal load in place. 

I hope this helps, Mark.S+10

[strummer]

Chris and Mark

I appreciate the help, and tried the truck screw trick,but this just isn't gonna come apart. I see by the diagram included with the loco that indeed the top of the tender is a separate piece, but this is just not cooperating, and I don't want to break anything else, so I guess I'm back to "square one": making the Trix tender accept the Bachmann trucks, ala Max's website.

Thanks again

Mark in Oregon

[Chris333]

Mine was hard to get out as well. That is why I pushed the screw from the bottom to pop it out. Maybe yours got glue somewhere?

[brokemoto]

I have done more than a few of these. 

Yup, undo the screws on the trucks.  Yup, pull off the aft coal board. 

Put the screwdriver into the slot and work out the tender deck/coal load.  It is a tight friction fit, so you must work it out, but it will come out. 

later versions of this have the shell as a friction fit to the chassis.

[strummer]

I'll try that.

How do I re-attach the "aft coal board"? It looks like it was glued in place...

Thanks again.

Mark in Oregon

[peteski]

How do I re-attach the "aft coal board"? It looks like it was glued in place...

Um, apply more glue? 

[strummer]

Um, apply more glue? 

It always pays to ask the experts.....

Mark in Oregon