What is going on with this DCC loco?

[roofintrash]

It looks to me that there are two snap lock catches on the sides of the box right behind the axles. You should be able to pull those carefully away from the gearbox with a curved dental pick. The angled portion inside the u shaped area alows you to push the covers back on with not much effort. Hope this helps.
Rick

 

[D&J RailRoad]

Well, after closer examination I wonder if some thread has gotten wound up in the gear. I used tweezers and pulled some strands off the shaft where it goes in to the gear housing. Any ideas on how to open this gear box?
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Dang, those have to be some of the dirtiest loco wheels I have ever seen.

 

[Sweet-Chuck]

Dang, those have to be some of the dirtiest loco wheels I have ever seen.

looks like they'll be getting more attention quite soon!

 

[D&J RailRoad]

looks like they'll be getting more attention quite soon!

I think that should be your very next action in solving this problem. That condition is about like trying to run the loco on plastic rail.

 

[tootnkumin]

Haven't been "cleaning" them with a file or sandpaper, have you? Look very rough.

 

[Sweet-Chuck]

I didn't realize that the wheels were in fact still very dirty after the (poor) cleaning effort I had already put in to it.
After using the papertowel/alcohol method it has really perked up!

thanks!!

 

[Sweet-Chuck]

Haven't been "cleaning" them with a file or sandpaper, have you? Look very rough.

No, no sandpaper!!! I've done some really silly things, and not done some really easy things, but definitely not that!!