How to change traction tires on Lionel H16-44?

Turn the truck 90 degrees to the right, it will drop down. you then will have to unplug the connector. Be careful not to lose the coupling as pictured here

Bill

Boxcar Bill,

I don't seem to be able to turn the truck 90 degrees in either direction.

Is there a trick that I am missing?

At some place close to 90 degrees, the truck has a detent to prevent the truck from falling off in normal use. It will take a little more pressure to turn.

Bill

Boxcar Bill,

I am sorry to be so dense. 

Does the motor turn 90 Degrees also?

Can you refer me to a Lionel instruction sheet?

Thank you.

No, the motor is permanently mounted, it does not turn. If the screws are installed from the bottom up on the side frames, just remove the two screws and the wheels are in plain site.

Bill

Early H16-44s do not have a LionDrive truck, only the Legacy ones do... so turning them 90 degrees to remove will not help.

The 1st generation H16-44s TMCC versions will have to be dissembled to remove the trucks and side frames.  There is a motor plate holding the truck in place.  I have just unscrewed the motor plate to let the truck fall away enough to get to the side frame screws.  On some locomotives, you can actually get to the screws for the side frames through the openings in the frame, by moving the truck back and forth until the screws are under a hole.  This may take some finagling.

The conventional H16-44s have the screw heads for the side frames facing the bottom, so you can get the side frame off without removing the truck from the frame.  If you can, that's the easiest. (See attached Owner's manual... Page 9 has the picture of the underside.)  This is much easier.

Good luck.

Thanks,

- Mario

Centralfan 1976,

I have the earlt TMCC version.

Where are thescrews that I need to remove.

I have tried removing the screw on the bottom of the truck. That doesn't do it.

Is there another screw to look for?

Thank you.

Yeah, I should have ask for the product number to be sure.

Bill

Some Diesels have enough room between the side frame and wheels that you can manipulate the new traction tire on with a tooth pick and some work.

The FM Demonstrators and PA units are ones I can think of.

From Lionel Tech:

"Should have one screw from the bottom of the truck that loosens the motor and motor mount from the truck most likely also has either or boh the pickup roller screw or the ground lug screw holding part of the motor mount to the truck. These screws are accessible from inside the loco top to bottom in the tight spot in the frame that the wires are attached for pick up and ground to the truck. It’s tight and hard to see but most likely one or both of those screws would need to be removed."