I need to get the shell off my loco to service the smoke unit assembly. This is one of those locomotives that uses tabs through the frame to hold the shell on...; I finally got the cab off the chassis but need some advice on the long hood. On the front of the hood are two screws that hold the long hood to the front of the frame from below. I have those removed; once they are removed two tabs on the front of the shell will slide backwards and then up. This leads to the $64.00 question; the two remaining tabs are at the rear of the hood assembly just in front of the front face of the cab - does anyone have experience on how much force it takes to push these tabs inward while not breaking them off the shell completely????
I'm pretty sure this system was also used on prior run S-2/S-4 switchers from Lionel. If anyone has some tips or tricks to get these two tabs pushed inward enough to slip them upward through the frame without breaking them off I would surely appreciate it! The Railsounds board tray sits in this area of the shell and clearance between it and the shell is likely no more than 0.015" on each side so not much room to work with either.....
Thanks in advance!
