Class 24 body jammed on.

[wilfy100]

Hi,
I have recently purchased a new Bachmann class 24 loco. I need to fit a decoder but the body will not come off. I have followed the instructions exactly. I have removed a total of 6 screws from the chassis, one at each end directly behind the buffer beam and four located adjacent to the fuel tank accessed by turning the bogies to one side then the other. I confirm I have not removed the screws in the bogie bottom plates by mistake.
The bodyshell will not then come off even with gentle levering with a screwdriver. The instructions say gently lift the body off, this is not possible at all. I suspect something in the cab areas is the cause.
This is the new tool (2021) Class 24. I do not believe there are any clips between the body and chassis. I have fitted decoders to 5 of the older tooling 24's/25's with no problem at all. The fixing arrangement on them did vary slightly depending on the age of the model but body removal was not a problem, probably one of the easiest to get the body off.
I have emailed Bachmann with no success, I now have to contact the dealer to see what they say. I suspect I will end up "up the creek without a paddle" with this. Any advice would be much appreciated. I really need to get a decoder fitted to make use of the loco.
Cheers Ian

[Bigmet]

Welcome aboard! You are far from the first to have this style of trouble.

You clearly know your way around model construction; I suggest being ready to send the text of your post to Bachmann service, once you have seen the retailer. Hopefully the model is still in warranty? If so the model is unfit for purpose as it stands and if the retailer cannot get the body off without any damage, it's a 'returned defective' job.

(I have been tackling this type of new loco model difficulty very briskly for 15 years, following the 'first round' of price rises in 2008/9. You want more money? Then none of the earlier problems are now acceptable, raise your game.

I run the model for 10 to 12 hours within days of receipt, as an infant mortality test: body off - if it won't come off, immediate return - two hours on DC, decoder installation, remaining running time. If it fails, then back it goes, 'failed new out of the box'. End result, no subsequent failures in operation from the locos I have retained. )

[centenary]

Hi,
I have recently purchased a new Bachmann class 24 loco. I need to fit a decoder but the body will not come off. I have followed the instructions exactly. I have removed a total of 6 screws from the chassis, one at each end directly behind the buffer beam and four located adjacent to the fuel tank accessed by turning the bogies to one side then the other. I confirm I have not removed the screws in the bogie bottom plates by mistake.
The bodyshell will not then come off even with gentle levering with a screwdriver. The instructions say gently lift the body off, this is not possible at all. I suspect something in the cab areas is the cause.
This is the new tool (2021) Class 24. I do not believe there are any clips between the body and chassis. I have fitted decoders to 5 of the older tooling 24's/25's with no problem at all. The fixing arrangement on them did vary slightly depending on the age of the model but body removal was not a problem, probably one of the easiest to get the body off.
I have emailed Bachmann with no success, I now have to contact the dealer to see what they say. I suspect I will end up "up the creek without a paddle" with this. Any advice would be much appreciated. I really need to get a decoder fitted to make use of the loco.
Cheers Ian

How long ago did you buy the loco, did you pay credit card (even if just a deposit) and did you buy it over the net, order by phone or in person?

End of the day, you have the protection of the Consumer Act and Section 75 and Distance Selling Regs as the item is 'not fit for purpose' as you cannot remove the body.

If you bought from a retailer, new, over the net and not in person in the last 14 days, you can return the loco no questions and ask for a full refund.

If bought more than 14 days ago or in person, the loco is still not fit for purpose and you can ask for a refund as the fault was clearly present at time of purchase. This consumer protection is only valid for 6 months, however.

If the retailer refuses to help and you bought with a credit card and the loco cost over £100, your card issuer is 'jointly and severely liable' for the quality of the loco and you could claim a refund direct from them.

None of this helps with the body removal but, if it is new out of the box and you cannot remove it, you dont want to cause damage trying to do so. Unless there is a hidden screw(s) somewhere and no way to get the body off then, Id return it for a replacement or refund.

[Bufferstop]

Have you removed the coupler pockets? A favorite Bachmann trick is to install a countersunk screw through the flat bit hidden by the coupler pocket. I can see why they do it, it's firm and flat, but it's easy to assume that the screw that holds on the NEM pocket is a body fixing screw. Not that it's just an NEM thing, some previous models had their own version of it.