HO Kato SD90 - remove shell

[LotoQuestions]

HO Kato SD90 - remove shell - any hint on how to get the hooks loose???
I just can't get the shell to move.

Couplers are off and interfering handrails are loose.

take care ,,, ken

 

[zoegraf]

HO Kato SD90 - remove shell - any hint on how to get the hooks loose???
I just can't get the shell to move.

Couplers are off and interfering handrails are loose.

take care ,,, ken

I found out how to remove my Kato shell on my NW2 by going to their website a while back.

Here's a sample from their site, but I don,t know how to navigate to other instructions for removal of shells on other locos.

http://www.katousa.com/N/GG1/maint/disassembly.html#bodyshell

 

[LotoQuestions]

have instructions

Thanks Zoegraf, but I have the instruction sheet and it is the same as online.

Either I am not squezing the shell hard enough where I think the hooks are or I need a hint..

thanks ,,, ken

 

[zoegraf]

It still makes me cringe remembering how hard I had to squeeze to get the shell off. I though I was going to break it for sure.

I wear white gloves from the dollar store to avoid damaging the finish or weathering.

http://katousa.com/consumers/HO-NW2-Bodyshell-removal.html

Here’s a shot of the only Katos I have. They still run great. I wish they made some more Canadian stuff.

 

[BSVRR]

On the documentation with my SD-38, the diagrams show the locations of the hooks, a bit of squeezing and rocking works, squeeze so your kind of pinching between the shell and frame for leverage, still isn;t anywhere near as hard as my Athearn BB 440's, broke the first one.

 

[LotoQuestions]

Success - thanks guys

Well I tried squeezing as hard as I could at the rear hook location on the shell to no avail.

Couldn't see how any amount of squeezing on the cab was going to work, I finally resorted to a really thin chisel Xacto blade to reach under the cab and get the front hooks and then very carefully used it on the rear as well. With care and a little additional squeezing and rocking they all released (no harm done) and we are operational with a decoder. Now to redo the handrails and couplers.

I like the Kato light pipes and having no connection to the shell from the frame.

take care ,,, ken

 

[ICG/SOU]

Yep, Kato locos are easy and clean to work on, but sometimes getting them apart for the first time stinks.