Replacing Pro typical front coupler on steam locomotive

A lot depends on the type of pilot the engine has. Step pilots are the easiest. The rest require removing a lot of metal from the pilots to have the coupler be of any use. Many engines come with dummy couplers for double heading. Electro couplers are considerably larger.

Pete

Try these non operating couplers from Scale City Designs:  48-343 O Scale Hi-Rail Dummy Coupler        

Knowing the 3 engines would help. As Pete mentioned. Most engines come with the dummy couplers in the box if it’s doable. At east they use to. Some such as a Consolidation have no way to remove the factory coupler or install something else. I’m a Kadee guy. All my steamers get them front and rear. An 805 Kadee will mate with most coil couplers. You will need to cut it to length,  drill a hole and notch it with a file to get the proper swing. I run more of a fleet with many of the same engines and double heading is important as it was done a lot on the prototype I model. I’m running 072 curves.

My three locomotives are all Lionel , as follows

Camelback Mfg. No. 2131650

Ten Wheeler, Mfg. No. 2131050

B6sb, Mfg. No. 6-82309

All three operate under Legacy Control.

The B6sb already has a working coupler. The other two should have come with a dummy coupler that mates with a standard Lionel coupler.

Pete

Pete, there were no dummy couplers in the boxes for the first two engines.  All three came with pro typical, non operational, scale couplers.

I just got out some manuals. It use to be mentioned how to replace the coupler for doubleheading as they use to provide them. No mention at all in my recent Legacy ones. I went to Lionel’s parts site and searched Dummy Couplers. Quite a few came up as In Stock. I can see the offset is different in some.

This one came up for I’m guessing a NYC F12 Ten Wheeler. As far as I know they all share these pilot.

I did find an older manual for a Camelback on the site.  No mention of switching out the coupler. You could remove both couplers and examine them side by side and see if they are close. It sucks to pay Lionel’s flat shipping rate for 1 item. They may have something that will work on it. What I have found at least with the engines I’ve done. When adding a Kadee to the front. It’s right on as far as height which is critical with the smaller couplers.

I have an early Odyssey 10 Wheeler that’s suppose to have a coupler in the box. I’ll see if I can track one down for you and see if I have any others that match.

The irony of it. In the early days of Odyssey nothing ran at compatible speeds and they came with couplers for doubleheading in the box. Now with Legacy and it all works. They seem to omit them.

@RPerras posted:

Pete, there were no dummy couplers in the boxes for the first two engines.  All three came with pro typical, non operational, scale couplers.

You are right. Just looked up the B6 and only one operating coupler. What is Lionel thinking? Its a switch engine. They have had working couplers since pre war.

Check to see if the other engines have their front coupler held on with a screw. If so the dummies Dave showed should work.

Pete

I ventured under the layout and pulled out the box of my recent Rutland 10 Wheeler. The coupler was in a packet with the traction tires. Doublecheck your box.  Never paid attention to it. Was more surprised it came with screws and spacers to mount the Kadee to the tender when I first unboxed it. I found another identical coupler from a Berkshire.

Hit my e mail in my profile with your address and I’ll ship them out to you.  It may even fit the Camelback. If you need one more I’ll keep digging. I’ve got 3 more 10 Wheelers.

According the Lionel, the B6sb should have electro couplers at both ends. Was this engine previously owned?

http://www.lionel.com/products...motive-6096-6-82309/

Pete

At one time these couplers came with Weaver locomotives.  Bowser, also, via Cal Scale, had similar O-gauge (Claw) couplers. That appears to be gone, as Bowser continues, to down size, all the small parts, once available.

I had done a double header with a small piece of copper wire, linking a scale front coupler to a Claw coupler.

Fwiw. I have an older model of a Lionel prr consolidation that had a scale sized front coupler. I can'remember if it came with  a Lionel size coupler. The housing mount cracked just enough that the original and a lionel size knuckle coupler would not work. I decided to modify the front of the frame by cutting a slot about an inch long, so I could mount the toy knuckle to pilot. I think I used an MTH fixed coupler. I had to shave the slot opening and the coupler arm several times to get enough clearance and get coupler height correct.  Although it is not a remote coupler, it works well. Someday I may modify the catcher to freight/switcher with foot steps. I like this loco. I added magnets and sensor switch to get four chuffs and had err installed to smooth previous erratic operation.

Pennsynut,   Good creative way to get a working coupler. My Consolidation has a very similar pilot. Looks like the scale coupler is held in by a plastic pin. Really no way to even mount a Kadee. Doubleheading is important on my RR. I decided to switch pilots. The prototype I model has pretty much pilot steps on everything.

Spent a morning cobbling up a mount to use a pilot from a Mountain. Which also looks a little more correct for my road. I had a better option looks wise. But running Kadee’s front and rear the starting point is the matching height. I trimmed the running board step on the shell but made no mods to the frame. I may revisit it at some point but it works for now.

Nice work Dave and nice engine. Thanks to RPerras, op, for this thread. It inspired me to remove the catcher on my Consolidation and make supports and steps from styrene today. After painting I will install.