Lionel superliner diaphragm gap

I shorten the couplers on all of my Lionel aluminum passenger cars.  (That is one of my pet peves!)  But you do need to disassemble the car to do it.  

Basically, after removing the car ends and sliding out the floor and freeing the trucks, I use a Dremel tool with a fibreglass cutting disc to remove the rivets holding the coupler to the metal shank.  I then cut off about an eighth inch or so from the end of the metal shank.  (you also have to cut off an equal amount from the uncoupling shaft and to grind smooth the top of the coupler)  I then super glue the top of the coupler and slide the assembly back together and clamp it overnight to make sure the superglue is fully set.  Reassemble the car and you are set to go.

I determined the amount to cut off from the shank by measuring how close the car ends are to each other when in my tightest curve.  And yes, that was done to my set of Superliners, too.

They are toy's. Why mess with them.

Peter thanks so much for the in depth process! I am definitely going to take a shot at that.

Eddie - toys for some, not all! 

I am cutting the coupler shank down on mine too. However,  I am using JB weld with good results 

PeterA posted:

I shorten the couplers on all of my Lionel aluminum passenger cars.  (That is one of my pet peves!)  But you do need to disassemble the car to do it.  

Basically, after removing the car ends and sliding out the floor and freeing the trucks, I use a Dremel tool with a fibreglass cutting disc to remove the rivets holding the coupler to the metal shank.  I then cut off about an eighth inch or so from the end of the metal shank.  (you also have to cut off an equal amount from the uncoupling shaft and to grind smooth the top of the coupler)  I then super glue the top of the coupler and slide the assembly back together and clamp it overnight to make sure the superglue is fully set.  Reassemble the car and you are set to go.

I determined the amount to cut off from the shank by measuring how close the car ends are to each other when in my tightest curve.  And yes, that was done to my set of Superliners, too.

Pictures?

eddie g posted:

They are toy's. Why mess with them.

Because they are toys. Toys are for messing with.

I didn't like the diaphragm gaps between my aluminum MTH passenger cars, so I filled in the gaps between the diaphragms with a linkage made of soft black fabric. I show the details on my video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9vgv1AJ5cU .  It's easier than changing the couplers, but may not be as prototypical as some would wish.