Lionel Legacy 2533201 SD-70M-How do I get the access cover off??

It pulls straight up. It might be stuck from the fresh paint. You need to make sure it's broke loose from the body. Wiggle it some as you pull up on it. But be gentle.

@TraderAlex posted:

A pair of these beauties delivered, today.   The manual that came with it is for an SD-70ACe, but I assume that does not matter.

Indicates the access cover is where the radiator and two fans are, in the rear.   But it does not budge, and I am afraid to break it. Am I working the right spot, and what is the trick to getting the cover to lift off?  Thanks/Alex

What Jayhawk said... just wiggle and be gentle on the radiator cover...

Also..could you post some more photos of these? Do you have any other Susquehanna units? If so, how does it compare? The paint color looks pretty good to me compared to the real world units.

I will get some photos, later.  Yes- I have also the pair of Susie Q SD-40T's, think those were from MY2024.   There is a slight difference in the yellow hue between the SD-40's and the SD-70's.  Not terrible, but not exact.

How do they compare?  Detail with the SD-70's vastly superior.   Running, that is what is strange.  I have a 35 hopper consist mostly made up of Aluminum K-Line rolling stock. They are heavy.   The two SD-40's can manage it, but I don't recommend it (usually pull those with an all power ABA set)  But I tried both SD-70's in lash-up, and the lead engine seemed to struggle from the strain. That surprised me. I added one of the SD-40's to make a 3 engine Suzie Q lash up, and that seems to solve the problem.

I have another strange issue, which i will write about.  But one of the SD-70's, road 4060,  (one day old in my hands) will self-start a start up sequence, exactly 90 seconds (timed it) after I shut it down in single engine mode.  After two minutes, I get an alarm bell and the engine goes to full start.  Road 4062 does not show this behavior, at all.  If you have any ideas what is going on, would appreciate it. Never saw this, before.

@TraderAlex posted:

I will get some photos, later.  Yes- I have also the pair of Susie Q SD-40T's, think those were from MY2024.   There is a slight difference in the yellow hue between the SD-40's and the SD-70's.  Not terrible, but not exact.

How do they compare?  Detail with the SD-70's vastly superior.   Running, that is what is strange.  I have a 35 hopper consist mostly made up of Aluminum K-Line rolling stock. They are heavy.   The two SD-40's can manage it, but I don't recommend it (usually pull those with an all power ABA set)  But I tried both SD-70's in lash-up, and the lead engine seemed to struggle from the strain. That surprised me. I added one of the SD-40's to make a 3 engine Suzie Q lash up, and that seems to solve the problem.

I have another strange issue, which i will write about.  But one of the SD-70's, road 4060,  (one day old in my hands) will self-start a start up sequence, exactly 90 seconds (timed it) after I shut it down in single engine mode.  After two minutes, I get an alarm bell and the engine goes to full start.  Road 4062 does not show this behavior, at all.  If you have any ideas what is going on, would appreciate it. Never saw this, before.

I'm not sure why that happens...but I have seen that same behavior with some of my other SD70ACes with the alarm bell sounds...so I don't think it is a problem, persay. But I also don't know what triggers it.

I have the SD40T-2s as well...I was just hoping Lionel would paint these a little 'darker' of a yellow like the real units are. I am still waiting for mine to be delivered, but if you can post some side by side shots later that would be cool to compare.

I'm looking forward to some big SU-99 style lashups... 3012, 3016, 4060, 4062, 4064 (METCA), 3024 (when it delivers), and 3614 (legacy sd45). Might be a little excessive but it'll sound good. Lol.

some lionel engines mimic the real thing with the auto start feature, the early es44's had it, now they have been leaving it out of the soundsets.   i think the latest es44's are missing that feature

Here are some photos.  I think the SD-70's are a slightly darker yellow hue.  It is really very close. If you want more, just holler!

The problem with this auto-start, if you just want to "park" it on a siding and run something else, it is very annoying to have it start up, again.

They shouldn't start up on their own.  The autostart is supposed to function if you just stop and leave it idling, then after a minute or two, it shuts down and you hear the little chime.  After a spell, it'll startup again for a short time, then shutdown again.  I think the first model that had that as I remember was the Vision Line Genset.

@TraderAlex posted:

Here are some photos.  I think the SD-70's are a slightly darker yellow hue.  It is really very close. If you want more, just holler!

Cool thank you. It does look a little darker. Looking forward to receiving mine.