Yes, I have one

Hi Joe,

I have an MTH GP35 like yours.  I called MTH service and they tried to talk me through getting the shell off.  Like yours, it would not budge.  I became concerned about damaging the unit, so there were two options:

1.  Send the unit to MTH service to have them remove the shell.

2.  Find a somewhat local MTH service center and have them do it.  MTH has quite a few of them.

I chose option 2.  The folks at that service center (really a train store) had a devil of a time getting the shell off, and broke at least two of the four tabs that hold the body on.  Some of the railings attach from the lower frame to the shell, and they had to be unhooked.  The couplers and spacers had to be removed as well.  They wedged two very small screwdrivers between the body and the walkway and pried it off.  It was ugly.

I inserted the decoder and they tested it to make sure it works.  Fortunately, it does.  Now I have to be careful when lifting the engine by the shell because without the tabs, there is really nothing to hold the shell on.  

My suggestion is to be careful about messing with it yourself.  Go on MTH's site and see if you can find a service center that you can get to.  

Good luck!

John C

Try squeezing the shell.

Took a look at the exploded view.  It's not that much different than how Atlas has their shells on.  Revisit the MTH site and download the exploded view again.  Then look for the "slotted tabs" on the diagram.  these should be your squeeze points.  Try this gently applying pressure and rock the shell side to side.  Take your time and the shell should come off.  Took me a while to figure out my Atlas U23B that is DCC ready.  The MTH looks almost like the same setup for attaching the shell.

Hope this helps.

Service Center Service?

Service center

Nelson, they looked at the diagram at the service center.  Tried squeezing the shell technique.  Tried everything.  Only brute force worked.  

Ken, you got me thinking.  I think I'll contact MTH Service and see what they say about the shell damaged at one of their own service centers.

John C

MTH

Good luck...MTH recently had a friends loco in for repair 8 months. Only after raising a stink on their Facebook page did they manage to ship that same day (coincidentally, of course).

Go to the MTH web site,

Go to the MTH web site, search for the GP35, click on one that shows DCC ready. At the top right of the new page is an image that looks like a book. Click on that to get the instructions on how to remove the shell and install a decoder.  Joe

GP 35 by MTH

Thank you all for the guidance. This weekend will be the trial by fire. I will probably change out the bright white leds for some smled sunny whites  and the soundtraxx tsunammmi. Wish me luck.   

Interesting!

Took a look at the website again and the lay it out step by step on how to remove the body.  Looks simple. Then again...................................

Looks simple

Yes, it looks simple.  And the directions make it sound simple.  Spread the body slightly by the fuel tanks, and lift off the shell.  As Joe is finding out, it doesn't work quite that easily.

Joe, please let us know how you eventually get the shell off.  I just plugged a regular decoder into the MTH board. Your project seems far more ambitious.  Let us know how it works out.

I e-mailed MTH service asking about replacing the shell their service center damaged while removing it.  We'll see what they say.

John C

Happy you got it removed

That's pretty much the way the service center folks removed mine with the same tab casualties.  I guess on the plus side,  we will have no problem removing our shells in the future 

John C

I've learned to put a hand under the loco (or car).

Years ago, I was carrying a (Roundhouse) boxcar by the sides when the floor dropped off and it hit the floor...no major damage, but I've learned to Always put a hand under anything I carry to catch it if it starts to slip out.