MTH Proto Scale 3/2 O Gauge Couplers

Well....yes....and no!

The coupler attaches to the truck and the two rail model still has the attachment point if you had all the parts (I have plenty!)

BUT, the fixed pilot has a tiny opening for the KD. You would have to cut the heck out of it just for the coupler to fit thru. That still wouldn't allow for very much swing & the way it mounts to the truck would actually hurt the situation.

 I believe the Vision line Lionel's actually have the pilots move on tighter curves. I'm not positive about the genset?

Your best bet is to use a 3-rail model, build a spacer between the pilot and body, and attach it. You can fabricate full length rails from brass wire as well. Many posts about this on the forum, do a search and you will see this can be done fairly straight forward.  

 

Here's one of many diesels I've converted, only I went with Kadee couplers and not the 3-rail version

how about you use the fixed pilot model then use a dummy coupler from a premier steam engine and bolt to the center Kadee mounting hole ?

 

Clem k

 

You need to eye ball it.  Some models no way.  Don't even have attachment point on truck.  G

If you put a Kadee 805 on there, it will still mate with a 3R coupler

That's a clever idea, Clem. At the RPM meet last year, one of the exhibitors had a couple of Fixed-Pilot MTH SD70ACe's with Hi-Rail couplers in place. Thinking about it, that might be what he did. The other thing you could do is cut-down a Weaver coupler bar to accomplish the same result.

 

The electronic couplers won't work as you'd have to mount them to the truck and the pilot opening isn't wide enough. On the Lionel locomotives, the pilot opening is larger or the pilot is mounted on a spring-loaded swivel.

 

As for me, I just install Kadees.

I have converted several diesels to fixed pilots. If they are made like they "always have been" (haven't done any really recent-production models), drop the trucks and remove the swinging pilot, which is usually held on with 1 or 2 screws. Cut off the tongue (you're committed, now!) which screws to the truck, make a spacer (styrene, basswood, lead - or brass, if you're really manly).

 

I used to drill and tap holes in the frame for machine screws, but many use epoxy (does not like to stick to styrene, BTW) or the like (Goo, even). Should be just fine, and the last one that I did that - epoxy and a basswood spacer - is all I used. Less cool than machine screws, and harder to remove if needed, but easy to do.

 

Word of warning:

 

I re-converted a Weaver U-boat back to swinging pilots, because I found that even on 072 curves the coupler would drag certain RS off the track. So, if you intend to stick to the truck-mounted coupler but have a fixed pilot, the "hole" probably needs enlarging, perhaps to a point that it looks stupid - if it even works - and makes an appearance worse than a swinging pilot.

 

You can get around that, but the most straightforward way (above) to get a fixed pilot has that risk attached.

I should have said that I was explaining the mounting of the MTH proto-couplers that come on their 3 rail engines. I didn't consider a regular 3 rail coupler.

Just my opinion but, why ruin a nice SCALE model with the fixed pilot and full length vertical hand rails, such as the MTH 2-Rail SCALE version with that oversize lobster claw? As stated above by Laidoffsick, why not install the correct Kadee 2-Rail coupler and allow it to couple with your rolling stock? Maybe even make a transition car with the Kadee on one end and the claw on the other?

Do you have a photo of this working? I've tried searching online, but can't find anything. 

That actually looks like a really good idea. 
My only question is would it work on O-72? Because that is all I would have to work with.

I have several videos in my YouTube channel, explaining and showing, running Kadees coupled with 3 rail couplers. I do it all the time.

The video of my Super Chief/El Capitan, although you can't see the couplers... the engines are all Kadees with fixed pilots on the A units, but the GGD cars were all 3 rail couplers. That is a heavy train, held together by a Kadee and a Claw. Well it was, I recently converted the head baggage car to a Kadee on 1 end.

Shoot! I guess he won't sell me his fixed pilots now.

Stirling I wouldn't think twice about buying the scale wheel versions, they look so much better, and operate great with Kadees, even coupled to 3R claws.

The only reason I'm questioning it is because in my own experience I couldn't get them to coupler. Now maybe  I wasn't using a car with an 805. I'm not sure. 

By the way, really nice layout you have! 

Stirling

I don't know if they will work on 072, I use all Kadee's and like the others have said 805 will hook to a claw.

 

Clem k