I'd like to replace the stock front couplers on my MTH F3's and E8 locomotives. What is involved please? What brand/model coupler is recommended?
Thanks
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By mention of the replacing the front coupler. I’m guessing this is more for cosmetic reasons. Do you want the pilot fixed to the chassis or just the coupler changed out ?
I’ve only done a DL109. I made the spacer out of aluminum. Works well. Involved some trimming. But you need a 70ft car to run behind them if using them as a double A with the geometry of the engines or very big radius curve.
Not having an F3 I’m not sure what’s available as to off the shelf parts to go this route. I’m sure one can be made or 3D printed. Just don’t know what’s involved. Maybe a Scale Atlas one can be adapted.
If you just want to swap out just the coupler. You can remove the coil coupler. You will be left with the hole that mounted the coupler with T Bar and clip. You can fab up a bracket out of 1/2 wide brass stock. Drill and tap your holes for the Kadee and then do I believe an 8 32 to mount the bracket to the truck.
I’ve done this on the fronts of my 0-8-0 switchers. The same theory will work for diesel trucks. The coupler still pivots with the truck but is not really noticeable size wise when leading a consist. I used a Weaver I had on the DL109. No exposed spring and no mounting holes showing. A 740 Kadee will look good. With an 805 you can even couple to some 3 rail couplers if needed.
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Thanks Joe and Dave. I will read those earlier posts and give this some thought. Am preparing to sell my home so I might not be able to get to this as soon as I'd like. My intention is to run an aluminum K-Line baggage with Kadees already installed behind the ABBA and to equip a die cast scale gondola with one Kadee to use as the 1st car in a freight consist. The gondola will give a better fire of the trailing A unit. The ABBA pictured will initially have the scale coupler on one A unit and the stock coupler (that I might pull off anyway - it's SO large) on the other A unit so I can pull with either one as the lead A. Would like to convert most of my equipment to scale couplers eventually. I'm too old now to switch over to 2 rail. Time's a-wasting!
Here's my custom-bashed GM&O DL-109, with fixed and shimmed pilot and non-O-gauge coupler from the parts box. This does not operate anymore than a front scale coupler does on one of our 3RO scale steamers. You could probably mate the coupler to a scale or Kadee unit, but even 072 curves would not cooperate. I did mine for looks and to use only at the head of a train (like a 3RO scale steamer). Too late for me to start this Kadee madness, much as I admire it.
The front of this loco does look really good, I must admit. How about those literally hand-made, hand-cut one-off early GM&O wings? Excuse the shallow depth-of-field photo.
Anyway, it's an option, if function is not critical.
