What Are All The Extra Bits - GMC Rapido F9B Operating Manual

with a small flat screwdriver and then spreading the side frames slightly. Now
go looking for the truck end beams that have flown to Jupiter when you stuck
the screwdriver in there. Forget it – they are gone. We probably should have
told you to take those out first. Sorry. The wheelset can be re-gauged by
grabbing each wheel and twisting. Reverse the steps to replace the wheelset
and ensure the gearbox cover is snapped into place before placing on the
track.
• Check that all underbody piping and appliances are firmly installed and clear
of the track. Of particular note are the air hoses and steam pipes at the rear
end of the unit, both coupler trip pins and the water tank on the CP unit. A
small drop of CA-type super glue will sufficiently hold any loose parts securely.
Under the body who cares if you spill a bit?
• Make sure that the trucks swivel freely and without binding. If they catch on
anything, check to ensure that the brake cylinders and their associated piping
do not interfere with any of the underframe components. If you really don't like
underbody detail, return this model and go buy a Cox one instead. They are
very nice.
• The end buffer plates should move smoothly and spring back quickly. If not,
there may be binding – check for flash or plastic shards that may cause any
interference.

WHAT ARE ALL THE EXTRA BITS?

Thankfully (or not) when Josh ended up with the F7B/F9B project, things were a little
bit more organized than the FP7 project of 2019. He still has nightmares about nose
ladders. Thankfully, the B units didn't have noses, and only one style of ladder which
not all units had. And because of that, the B units have very few additional parts.
The parts bag with your locomotive may include any combination of the following
parts: diaphragms, speed recorder cables, and a ladder or two. That's pretty much
it. If you find anything else in there, by all means go get a lottery ticket. If you win,
Josh gets a slice of the winnings. I guess there are perks to writing these manuals!
(Ed. It's also a bad sign when Josh refers to himself in the third person. You feeling
OK, Josh?)
Josh is feeling great. The diaphragms are not installed for two reasons. Firstly, CN
and CP both removed the diaphragms of their F7Bs and F9Bs locomotives soon after
delivery. They were an unnecessary maintenance headache and the railways did not
see the need to keep their crews protected from the elements as they regularly had to
get out to line switches, couple/uncouple cars, clean signal heads, and sign register
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