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General Lionel & Model Train Discussion => General Lionel Model Train Discussion => Topic started by: nards01 on January 05, 2013, 09:11:33 am

Title: Re: Coupling problem!!
Post by: Sam Mamish on February 03, 2013, 07:15:30 pm
Going a long way back in the memory banks, here. On the Scout units, the recommendation was to bend the coupler down enough to swing the truck 180 degrees, and using a conversion coupler (standard replacement coupler for a PT-1 style truck), lay it up and bend the tabs over the axles.
I think I remember the Scout couplers were cost saving to allow lower retail pricing of the sets.


I just went and checked my Greenberg's from 1978, page 665 shows how to do it.
480-25 is the part number for the coupler, probably changed, any of the usual suspects should have it. Ask for the "tab coupler", has a tab sticking out the side. You can do them all at once, or one now, two next time, two next time....does an adaptor car first, then a full car, full car, until you're done. There is even a way to do it with Box couplers, which I bhave done, and still have on my railroad.
Sam
Title: Re: Coupling problem!!
Post by: djacobsen on January 20, 2013, 06:25:00 am
Okay,  if you have an 'old' car(a boxcar) that you feel you can defile,
remove the body from the frame, then use a drill  & drill out the rivet.
add a new type coupler using the plastic push type pin that hold them
to the frame.  If you don't have a car that you're willing to defile, look
around at junk shops etc for an older car that is missing a truck &
or wheels on one end and convert that to a transition car.
Title: Re: Coupling problem!!
Post by: nards01 on January 19, 2013, 06:39:10 pm
Thanks for the info - but the couplers on my older cars are riveted on.  The couplers on the new cars screw on.  I guess the question is can I get older type couplers to SCREW on the new cars?  I would only need two of them. Do they make them??
Title: Re: Coupling problem!!
Post by: djacobsen on January 19, 2013, 03:43:33 pm
Nards,
it sounds like you need to make a transition car.
Replace the truck & coupler on one of your older
cars with a modern truck & coupler,  If you don't
have a older car to use, change out the truck &
coupler on one your modern cars with a older truck & coupler.
I do this with my N scale trains when  cars have the
old style hook & horn coupler's.
Also have a few Large Scale transitions cars &
an HLW Mack with a hook & loop on one end
 & a kadee coupler on the other.

(HLW- Hartland Locomotive Works- American made 1:24 SCALE TRAINS)
Title: Coupling problem!!
Post by: nards01 on January 05, 2013, 09:11:33 am
I have an old Lionel Scout train from the 1950's.  I just bought some new Lionel cars to add to it.  The couplers are a little different (I'm surprised Lionel would change them at all) and I can't keep the new cars connected to the older ones.  There has to be a remedy to this!!  Any help would be appreciated.