Spectrum Russian 2-10-0 tender access

[Big Harry Diehl]

I'm adding  -  or trying to add  -  a sound decoder to a Spectrum Russian 2-10-0.  OK, seems self explanatory  -  mark the truck frames and the tender underframe so I can get the pickups back correctly, then remove the truck screw.

Oops  -  it's a little machine screw, not a sheet metal screw threaded into plastic, meaning there's a bolt inside, and guess what:  there's nothing to restrain the bolt from spinning with the screw. 

OK  -  using a small screwdriver between the truck and bolster I was able to apply enough tension on the screw to finally get the nut off the front truck screw  -  I heard it drop and rattle around inside.  Now for the rear truck.  Uh oh.  No matter how much tension I apply, it just spins and spins and doesn't loosen any more.  I can't say how much the design sense applied to this impresses me.

Any suggestions?  I'm adding  -  or trying to add  -  a sound decoder to a Spectrum Russian 2-10-0.  OK, seems self explanatory  -  mark the truck frames and the tender underframe so I can get the pickups back correctly, then remove the truck screw.

Oops  -  it's a little machine screw, not a sheet metal screw threaded into plastic, meaning there's a bolt inside, and guess what:  there's nothing to restrain the bolt from spinning with the screw. 

OK  -  using a small screwdriver between the truck and bolster I was able to apply enough tension on the screw to finally get the nut off the front truck screw  -  I heard it drop and rattle around inside.  Now for the rear truck.  Uh oh.  No matter how much tension I apply, it just spins and spins and doesn't loosen any more.  I can't say how much the design sense applied to this impresses me.

Any suggestions? 

[richg]

By the way, you repeated yourself in the message. Once is enough.
You where not supposed to remove the truck screw.
There are a couple philips head screws usually under a wheel on the front truck. You might have to remove a wheel. Then you can lift the tender shell. You probably can see that in the paperwork that comes with the loco or here in the diagram page.
Look carefully.

Rich