MTH Switcher Coupler Upgrade

Donald,

Are you certain about that? That would be most unusual.

Is this used and did someone add the Kadee couplers?  If so you can go back to electrocouplers.  DD-0000032.  The plugs should be inside the engine.   G

I found this engine on EBay from a MTH dealer.  I looked it up on MTH site and it did not mention electro couplers, so I asked the dealer.  He said it did not have them.  I thought very strange.  I don't want to buy one without the electro couplers.

Sounds like the dealer is correct.

From the features list for both 20-20006-1 and 20-20006-2.

• Kadee Compatible Coupler Mounts (couplers not included)

You may be able to add the standard electrocouplers, hard to say without seeing it.

Donald,

This whole deal sounds odd. The 3-rail engines all come with electro couplers. In the description for the engine, while it doesn't state "Protocouplers", it does say it has   "Kadee Compatible Coupler Mounts (couplers not included)", which is correct for an engine with Protocouplers.

However, since the dealer is saying it doesn't have the Protocouplers, and many E-Bay dealers cannot offer an MTH warranty, I'd strongly suggest that you pass on this deal.

By the way, I own this particular engine and mine, purchased used in fact, came with Protocouplers. It's a really neat engine!

Barry, thanks for the clarification.  I've never personally seen any 3-rail MTH command engine come without couplers, so I did wonder about the description.

I agree with your assessment, pass this one by.

Gentlemen,

   This engine sounds like it may have been originally a 2 rail engine.

I have never heard of a 3 rail engine built in this manner.

Barry & Guns are correct let this one alone.

PCRR/Dave

It comes in both versions.  He said -1 which is 3R.  -2 is 2 R.  If you look at the instructions, it shows the protocouplers installed.  So as stated something is up.

Adding them is $12ea so if you really want it and it works otherwise, the MTH Dealer can either add them or maybe give you a $24 credit for new couplers.  G

I have that engine and it came with electro couplers.  I purchased it new.  Ebay queens are not the best way to go.  Yes the price may be great but it usually ends there.  I see you are form NE.  I can pretty much guess who you purchased that from.

Thank you everyone for your input.  I knew it sounded crazy, so I figured you guys could help me understand.  And yes buying online is a crap shoot sometimes.  But when you live in the middle of nowhere sometimes that is my only choice.  I am currently working in China so it is a little hard to go to a hobby shop. ha ha

Just as information, I am a railroad equipment engineer and have 45 years in the industry from all over the world.  I am currently working as Chief Engineer for the Chinese Railway Ministry.  I know the people from NRE who build the Gensets and actually was hoping they would buy me one since I was instrumental in their designs from years past on Union Pacific Railroad.  But I think the old saying, "what have you done for me lately" applies here, Ha ha

Even better, you can drop by the factory and get all the new stuff for 10% of what we pay!

Tried the factory, they won't let me in.  Even tried going through the government sources.

Just as an Update on this subject.  I think this may be a Scale Wheel -2 engine.

I have a NYC F-3 set with scale couplers and wheels, with Kadee mounts on the fixed pilot.

This model DOES NOT have provisions for Proto couplers.  After talking to MTH Service, these new models meant for the 2R folks have different trucks and other mods that do not allow the installation of proto couplers.

Even though the web/catalog may say it does, it doesn't.  Looks like they just copied the 3R features into the 2R/Scale description.

So the seller maybe telling the truth, but it is a -2 engine not -1.  G

George,

but it is a -2 engine not -1

However, Donald stated that it's a -1. So, is Donald mistaken?

Maybe, but so is the MTH website.  As the pictures and features of the -2 say proto couplers.  Service and I talked about it, have an F-7 ABA that a customer wants changed to 3R couplers.  Not going to happen, the mount boss is not there.

So this becomes a more general warning to someone thinking of getting a 2R scale cheap and converting it.  Won't be cheap if it can be done at all for these latest PS-3 releases.  G