Taking Apart The Durango & Silverton

[James The Red Engine]

Hello there,
I have 4 engines in my G scale collection and right before Christmas last year I bought the Durango & Silverton set.  This train runs backwards where as my other engines run forwards.  There's no direction switch on the engine so I have to take it apart and reverse the wires on it.  Does anyone know how I can take the engine apart to reverse the wires without the risk of damaging something?

-James

[Loco Bill Canelos]

James,

Are you sure there is no switch?  All the Big haulers I have seen have it located behind the smokebox door.   There should be two switches, one is for the smoke unit and the other is the polarity switch.  It may be marked NMRA on one side and LG or large scale on the other, but I don't have one in front of me right now.  When you find it flip it to the other side and try your engine again, it should be OK. 

[on30gn15]

James, what are the brands and types of the other engines?

As a general rule, the international practice for track polarity for G is opposite of NMRA general practice of forward when right hand rail is positive.

Are you sure there is no switch?  All the Big haulers ...

The train set Big Hauler 4-6-0s I have and have seen do not have that; all they have is a smoke switch.
Anniversary edition 4-6-0 do have the polarity switch.

[on30gn15]

Does anyone know how I can take the engine apart to reverse the wires without the risk of damaging something?

First off, we are talking the 4-6-0, right?

No, not without risk, there is always risk. But with minimal risk, yes. I have one dismantled right now for a bit of kitbashing and detail adding.
Taking apart Anniversary Edition 4-6-0 is rather more involved on account of extra details than the train set locos.

Here's what's under the boiler, save for smoke unit which is screwed to boiler molding under stack.
Remove weight for access to motor.



And the motor.
Apologies for the blurriness, my hands are cooperating today a little less than usual.

[on30gn15]

You'll also have to take the bottom plate off and deal with the mechanical guts down there to allow access to motor, and that's a hair on the more involved side.
This is actually an Annie I had apart last year. Not in the mood to take apart the D&S Big Hauler right now.

[Loco Bill Canelos]

Sorry about that, I did mix up the Annie & Big hauler!!

[James The Red Engine]

Well, I took the bottom plate off the locomotive and switched around the wires on the brass pickups.  Now the engine runs the same direction as all my other ones do when their running.  Thanks everyone.