Electromagnetic
Couplers
for
American
Flyer
I've
always
wanted
to
have
a
"yard
goat"
for
the
switching
duties
with
remote
control
electromagnetic
couplers.
I
often
thought
that
the
Lionel
couplers
were
so
close
to
the
AF
profile
that
they
could
be
made
to
work,
so
being
the
tinkerer
that
I
am,
I
have
come
up
with
a
conversion.
The
coupler
is
slightly
larger
than
the
AF
stock
one
but
one
has
to
look
twice
to
notice
the
difference.
This
project
will
end
up
on
my
342
that
uses
TMCC
to
activate
the
couplers.
The
coupler
is
Lionel
part#
610-8855-550
$6.60
each.
A
pair
is
also
available
in
a
Lionel
GP_9
upgrade
kit
part
#6-22961
which
also
includes
a
TMCC
LCRX
receiver
board
that
can
be
found
at
various
surplus
dealers
for
about
$10. If you can't find the kit #610-8855-550 should work or others may too.
Click
to
pictures
to
enlarge
view
|
This
is
the
Lionel
Electromagnetic
coupler
modified
to
work
with
American
Flyer
and
American
Models
couplers.
Mounted
on
this
AF
truck
it
is
only
3/16"
longer
than
a
stock
AF
coupler.
|
| Here is the bottom view. There is clearance for power pickup springs | |
|
The shank is cut and drilled as shown in the drawing. |
| To work with AF style couplers there is some material that needs to be removed for compatibility. Disassembly of the knuckle from the body is required to file the castings. Carefully un-crimp the peening of the rivet and remove with a small punch. Don't lose the springs! | |
|
This drawing shows how the coupler is mounted to a modified AF truck shank with a flathead 4-40 x 1/4 in screw. |