removing shell from an American Flyer 303

Todd wrote: The subject says it all. How do I remove the shell from an american flyer 303 locomotive? I've removed the shell from the tender, but not from the engine itself. I'm sure this is easy. Anyone have any quick hints?

------------------------------------------------ I have a 301 and looked to see if I could determine how to remove it, but I didn't see anything that would help.

Perhaps someone in one of Yahoo's American Flyer groups could assist:

american

but not

quick

Remove the drive rod screws and remove the drive rods. Replace the drive rod screws to keep the connecting rod in place.

Remove the two screws holding the socket panel to the back of the cab.

Remove the two screws holding the pilot to the boiler, then remove the pilot.

Remove the screw holding the light bulb socket in place.

Remove the two screws at the front of the chassis.

Slide the chassis slightly forward to clear the mounting tabs attached to the boiler that keep the rear of the chassis in place. (If the tabs broke off some time in the past, then may have been remounted by drilling and tapping the boiler. In which case loosening the screws one turn will ease removal of the chassis.)

Lift the rear of the chassis to clear the mounting tabs, then slide back and out of the boiler shell. Take care to feed the socket panel through the rear of the cab as the chassis is removed from the boiler.

Reverse the process to put it all back together.

Note: *DO NOT* lubricate the interior of the smoke unit cylindar or exterior of the smoke unit piston. Both should be clean and dry when reassembled.

-- Len Head Rust Scraper KL&B Eastern Lines RR Museum