Opening Thomas - how?

GeoPeg posted:

In the 2nd pic below, (right and left bottom side views) I could not reach these screws to remove them, but they look like if released, the entire engine would drop out of the bottom - not necessarily what I want, but it may be the only way in?

A little help from those that have been there would be appreciated 

I've not actually done this, but it looks an awful lot like a large Phillips jewelers screwdriver would fit right in the gap between the flanged and flangeless wheel to get to the head of that screw.

What type of screwdriver are you using?

Also, on a different note, don't forget about the face.  The cover may need to come off before you can remove the guts from the frame, but I'm not 100% sure of that.

Good luck!

-Dave

I took one apart years ago, but I honestly forget exactly what the process was.  I was upgrading it to TMCC so I had to get inside.

Depending on which model you have the green screws over the motor have to be removed as well.

To take the whole thing out of the body the 2 screws deep below the wheels will have to be removed as well. When you put it back together you have the get the shaft that sticks out the front into the small slot to have the gears keep the eyes moving tricky to do. Early models the face did not come off easy to do this. On the later models the black smoke stack pulls up and off to be able to get to the shaft.

I cannot recall exactly but one model like this I had to remove the whole thing from the body and then from the top have a screw driver hold the top mount of the center rail pickup screws while I took the bottom screws out of the 3rd rail pickup rollers before the bottom would come off to get at the gears.

Hope this helps have to pull my Thomas apart and replace the motor soon. 

A last minute discovery - I removed the red and yellow screws again and then pried on the plastic male/female parts under the yellow screws. It finally let loose! This allowed the  bottom plate assy to be removed, or should i say moved, off to the side, exposing the well greased worm and worm gear. So i dont think that's the cause of the growling noise.

I'm wondering if the traction tire is vibrating or bouncing, due to the load Thomas is pulling? That would be Annie, Clarabell, a Lionel nuclear toxic waste car, a Crescent Limited baggage car, a Western Union baby Madison car, and 3 Nabisco passenger cars (very much like baby Madison size)? Admittedly a somewhat unusual consist....

I think you're pulling more than poor old Thomas was designed for.  See if he can pull three or four cars without issue.

I'd agree.  4 Madison passenger cars (alone even!) plus all the other stuff is likely way too much. Pulling 5 or 6 Thomas cars would probably be fine.

The Thomas themed cars tend to be a little lighter, so are not such a drag (Annie and Clarabell are very light, at least)

-Dave

Thomas is just a small tank engine....better call Gordon, Hank, or Murdoch

Well, I knew Thomas was running pretty much at his limit, so I lightened his load considerably, and he growls much less now.... couldn't even hear a grumble! He doesn't even complain when Annie & Clarabell each get a load of Minecraft passengers!

I've taken thomas apart and reassembled a few times.  I can verify the eye "fingers" are the dodgy part.   I had the interest of putting in a DCC sound board but never went there.  Learned a fair bit just studying the problem though. 

I think you have fixed your issue, I don't see that little locomotive pulling more than 4-5 cars at the most.

We have: thomas, diesel, 'arry (or maybe its bert), and James.  James jumps the tracks often because he's too light over this pilot.  The others to me -- cursory look and from memory which may be faulty as they are in boxes at the moment -- are basically the same motor system with a different shell.  Of them our thomas is the speediest by far.  I know I've sent ~15-20 cars around with him a few times without issue.  These are o-gauge cars from years gone by.  But I can't say I've done it on a regular basis.  Since they are all "the same" -- I just imagine it's luck of the draw in the parts bin.

gunrunnerjohn posted:

I think you have fixed your issue, I don't see that little locomotive pulling more than 4-5 cars at the most.

So where exactly did you find room for the TMCC electronics, et al?

No sound, just put the ERR MiniCommander II into it.

There's also little bit of room in the coal bin... 

Possible additional pt of interest: there's folks that have retrofitted the bachmann ho thomas with DCC sound, and wedged an LED through its front lamp.   There used to be free vids of this process on you tube, but I see now someone wants you to pay $0.99 to watch them do it....