Reseating AZL PCB Boards

I discovered the board can indeed become completely loose and lodge into the top of the inner body, at least for the GP30s, at some point in shipping. I’d recently received some GP30s from Anthony at Z Scale Monster. One of them appeared to be completely missing the board. Anthony was getting ready to send me a replacement board when he checked some other GP30s he had and discovered some of them had the boards nested inside the upper part of the body. I checked my GP30 and, sure enough, it was neatly lodged inside the body and easy to completely miss, unless you flipped the body upside down for a look inside.

Once discovered, it was easy enough to remedy. I just carefully popped it out with a dental pick and installed it, like in the video. By the way, I now have 4 GP30s and this only happened to one of them. They’re great running locos, though, and I’m very glad to have them. However, I’m glad to see the beautiful new RS3s have boards that are screwed down.

Thanks for the video, Rob!

This is so much easier on the new GP38 chassis with the motor tabs sticking up further where you can actually see them making contact.

Hello everyone,
I am long time Marklin Z owner and just recently purchased a brand new AZL ES44AH in CSX livery. I am very impressed with the level of detail and the quality “feel”. However, as warned on the little sheet of paper that sat on top of the locomotive, the engine appears dead. I am assuming it is the PCB and figured I could do as suggested and fix it on the spot. So I gently tried to remove the shell, but it is firmly in place and would not budge at all. I am reluctant to do anything to get the shell off without a good idea how it goes on. I do not want to break my new AZL locomotive, the first I have ever owned at that.

So my question, could someone post a video or an instruction sheet on how to properly remove it without damaging any of the delicate hand rails. I have scoured the web and cannot find much discussion about this loco at all, never mind repair instructions.

One other more than likely unrelated data point, when I received the locomotive, the jewel box and all internal packing appeared in factory condition and previously unopened. However when I went to dump the engine into my hand, the front truck came out separately. Also, one section of railing was hanging off the body. I was able to snap the truck back on and gently push the railing in place. I was surprised that it came out in that condition but after reading the note placed in the box, it seems like this kind of thing is expected.

Thanks so much in advance.

Respectfully,

RT Mallamas.

Once you get the shell off, you can use a 9 volt battery to the frame.