Thanks! I got the smokebox front off. The smoke generator was preventing the wires from moving. I was able to get it out and replace the LED. I a piece of plastic flew our when I pried off the front, but doesn't seem to go anywhere. I also have a part left over, but everything works fine. (Don't know about the smoke, and don't care.) Thanks for the help. I love Shay locomotives, but this has been a bit of a challenge. Started with a rotting (literally) gearbox, then no rear light. In the process of trying to fix the rear light, I blew the front. Waiting for the LED for the rear now.I'm not sure how the smokebox front comes off but it does seem to come forward a little when coaxed.
You can remove the headlight mounts from the smokebox by shoving a thin blade slightly downward between the headlight mount and smokebox while lifting the mount (in the area behind the headlight). There are small lugs that clip it in place. The lugs tend to break anyway but a little silastic to glue it in place makes it serviceable later.
You will also need to bend the metal retainers that hold the handrail at front to free it completely apart from the wires. Hope this helps.
Mine looked like a version2. The original trucks had 6 screws. This was advertised on Ebay as "new." (I realize one has to take some things with a grain of salt) As soon as I opened the box one could see that "new " was a bit of a stretch. The video tape was open it was out of the plastic bag, etc. I knew something was up when I was doing the first time maintenance/lubrication. One of the wheels was loose. I thought it was a missing screw, the locomotive seemed to run well, so I found someone who had a shay for parts who would send me s screw. One day the Shay derailed for no reason. I found pieces of plastic along the rails as well as one of the contact bearings and the screws that hold the wheels on. When I went to disassemble the truck, I noticed the screws seemed stripped. I knew when I put it together after lubing I did not overtighten the screws. Then I saw the cracks all over the gearbox, it was falling apart. My Shay now has the die-cast trucks and is running fine.
i had the first version as well. after a rebuild of the first set of trucks, by me, reducing the drag of the ball bearing pick ups, and replacing the cracked gears, i bought the die cast trucks.OK, so mine in time might eventually start crumbling too. I have a new set of metal replacement trucks anyway so I'm prepared for the worse. Thanks for the info.