new class 25 - snow ploughs

[guest311]

recently received two new class 25s from Liverpool, BR blue 25245 and weathered BR blue 25231.

ran them in and while they were running around the track I had a look at the instructions and detailing parts bag.

mmm lots of bits to fit on the A end, but nice clear diagram for what goes where .....

mmmm snow ploughs - now how do they fit ?

read instruction several times, no help.

decided to leave till later.

this morning had another look, and after nearly an hour got the first one fitted on 25245 - what a  palarver 

I initially expected the same idea as on the class 20s, so removed the front coupling ... oops nothing on the back of the plough to fit into the NEM.

 

after much faffing about finally worked out how to fit it, or at least got it fitted on anyway, right or wrong.

remove the bogie from the loco.

remove the coupler from the NEM socket.

remove the NEM socket from the bogie frame, prising out the two small clips the fit into the frame.

now gently fit the plough with the two small clips on the centre fitting into the frame ....

apply more force .....

swear .....

try again .....

more swearing .....

apply even more force, now worrying about breaking the plough moulding .....

have a wee dram ....

find a pair of fine nosed pliers, and use them to squeeze the plough and frame together and finally force the clips into the frame ...



have another wee dram to celebrate ...

refit bogie to loco ....

test run .......

decide to leave the plough on 25231 till another day .

what a pity Bachmann didn't seem to think it necessary to give us a clue about this 

rant over. hope it may help anyone else who may have been baffled about this fitting.

cheers

alan

[STEVE44]

Hi,
   I glad its just not me who has problems. I had a go on the class 20 but just gave up, to worried about breaking some part of loco. I hope someone can give good instructions how to fit these without damaging anything.

Steve44

[Bealman]

Full marks for perseverance!! I love seeing diesels fitted with snowploughs, but I doubt I'd ever bother because the way I understand it, the coupling has to be removed? I like being able to use either end of my locos....

But I could be wrong?

[Dr Al]

But I could be wrong?

In some cases it's possible to modify the ploughs to retain the coupling - I've done this on a couple of  Dapol 26s, allowing the best of both worlds (does mean the central triangular wedge has to go, but that's a small price to pay).

Cheers,
Alan