LIONEL PLASTIC COUPLERS OPERATION

You can retrofit the coupler shank with a 480-8 knuckle, 480-16 spring, & TC-13 rivet.

Actually, you can keep the plastic knuckle, and just replace the integral spring with the TC-13.  Of course, the rivet has to be replaced too to accomplish this.

It is always a good Idea to store train cars with the couplers open.  This

will help them to keep working.  You would think that after all these years,

Lionel could come up with a more dependable coupler.

I do what Rob says with stuff I'm planning on keeping a long time.  I buy the rivets and springs in bulk, and they are pretty cheap that way.  You will need a way to set the rivets, I have the Brakeman's Riveter, but you can do it with a center punch and small hammer if you have three hands.

Most parts dealers have the knuckle rivets in black or silver finish.
I find that the black rivets are easier to clinch.

It's my impression that the black ones are brass, and the silver ones are steel (or some other harder metal)

I keep both colors and match the original that the car had originally.

quote:

I keep both colors and match the original that the car had originally.

If it's a collectable car, I use the correct parts, including the knuckle rivet color (and head shape).

If it's a runner, then it doesn't matter to me, and I will use a black rivet, and whatever other parts are handy.