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Post by runamuckchuck on Mar 30, 2024 15:06:37 GMT
Any advice for techniques and tools necessary to 'stand up' tabs securing the tender shell from the base? Space is restricted, however the tabs are not pressed firmly against the floor of the tender. I have to replace a broken coupler attached to the tender with a coupler pocket square not a simple screw in arrangement. This method of attachment is only accessible by removing the tender shell.
I have never done the before and I would hate to mess up this really nice tender. Thanks
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Post by healey36 on Mar 31, 2024 14:09:40 GMT
Ask this question of a hundred folks and you'll likely get a hundred different opinions. I've had good luck simply prying them up with a small flat-bladed screwdriver or knife, then bending them straight with a pair of small pliers. Go slow! When reassembling, there's the question of whether to twist them or bend them over. I have always bent them back over, again very slowly and judiciously.
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Post by runamuckchuck on Mar 31, 2024 20:58:07 GMT
Ask this question of a hundred folks and you'll likely get a hundred different opinions. I've had good luck simply prying them up with a small flat-bladed screwdriver or knife, then bending them straight with a pair of small pliers. Go slow! When reassembling, there's the question of whether to twist them or bend them over. I have always bent them back over, again very slowly and judiciously. That may be so, however you are the first, and that is much appreciated.
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Post by Adam on Mar 31, 2024 22:24:16 GMT
My approach is the same as Healey’s. As he said, take your time and use care. That way you will not break as many tabs. Some will break, but don’t let that discourage you.
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Post by runamuckchuck on Apr 4, 2024 19:16:53 GMT
Well I put on my big boy pants and armed with an assortment of a mini pry bars, 9" thin blade screwdriver, longish semi needle nose pliers and stiff putty knife tools from the local big box home store succeeded in removing the shell from the tender and removing the broken coupler and draw bar from the grasp of the coupler pocket squares.
(My garage is in such disarray that it is more expedient to go buy new tools that I know I already have than waste time looking for what I may never find until I don't need it.)
No snapped off tabs thus far. They are standing nicely at attention.
Now I await the arrival of the replacement coupler and then we are set to attempt the process in reverse which I anticipate will be more delicate.
I will say that access to the tabs on this tender was a bit daunting until I determined the proper approach around the pair of 6 wheel trucks. All four tabs were tucked into the tender corners for less than convenient access.
This tender comes equipped with a pickup roller on each truck but no wires and no mechanism. Could this tender have possibly been outfitted with a whistle as an option when new? There are several holes and a small square cut in the tender floor to accommodate something like a whistle mechanism. The floor appearance is brand new so nothing was ever installed or removed is my guess.
Would a whistle work with a conventional loco?
My ignorance knows no bounds.
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Post by Adam on Apr 4, 2024 21:43:39 GMT
Fingers crossed. So far so good.
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Post by healey36 on Apr 5, 2024 11:36:03 GMT
I have an MTH 392E that I want to put a BCR in (been saying that for years). When I finally get it down off the shelf for the refit, I'm hopeful that it's not held together with tabs.
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Post by runamuckchuck on Apr 6, 2024 13:08:57 GMT
I have an MTH 392E that I want to put a BCR in (been saying that for years). When I finally get it down off the shelf for the refit, I'm hopeful that it's not held together with tabs. Don't try to access the battery through the coal pile if you encounter tabs underneath the tender. The screw 'securing the coal pile' uses a nut rather than screwing into a threaded hole. Once the nut drops you will have to remove the tender shell to secure the coal pile once again unless you attach the nut to the tender shell in some fashion. Hopefully MTH changed the design after my version.
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Post by runamuckchuck on Apr 13, 2024 22:08:04 GMT
With a new latch coupler in hand, a straightened draw bar at the ready and as was suggested by a friend, a hair dryer (with my haircut?!) to warm the tabs gently before rebending but not hot enough to blister the paint I am ready to reconstruct my tender tomorrow.
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Post by BobS2056 on Apr 30, 2024 1:03:03 GMT
I have used a soldering gun BUT very carefully not to let it get to hot (a little dab will do u) Also found these strange looking long end pliers at a Science surplus store. Bob Attachments:![IMG_0994.jpeg](//storage.forums.net/7085221/thumbnailer/FngLTcuPsIUgKdgZgNMA.png)
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Post by healey36 on Apr 30, 2024 1:21:20 GMT
Wow...those are pretty cool, the kind of thing you can't envision ever using, then two dozen "I wish I had a pair of those things" pop up.
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Post by BobS2056 on Apr 30, 2024 4:27:09 GMT
The strange looking pliers I call them, came from American Science & Surplus store (sciplus.com) if you have one in your area.
Bob
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Post by Adam on Apr 30, 2024 12:05:46 GMT
Looks like the sort of thing the surgeon leaves inside of you during an operation. LOL
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Post by runamuckchuck on Apr 30, 2024 20:31:34 GMT
The strange looking pliers I call them, came from American Science & Surplus store (sciplus.com) if you have one in your area. Bob For picking things up around corners? What is with that little 'Y' at the end?
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Post by healey36 on Apr 30, 2024 22:04:35 GMT
The strange looking pliers I call them, came from American Science & Surplus store (sciplus.com) if you have one in your area. Bob For picking things up around corners? What is with that little 'Y' at the end? You don't want to know, lol.
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