The 1/8" Aluminum Plate size is not critical. It is tapped for the 4-40 coupler screw and counter sunk for the 6-32 flat head replacement screw that is used to hold the pilot to the steam chest.
Hudson Pilot Coupler Conversion
| Double
heading
engines
is
possible
with
this
conversion
to
the
Pilot
casting
of
an
American
Flyer
Hudson.
The
finished
project
makes
a
respectable
looking
Cow
Catcher.
Obviously
not
scale
it
still
has
a
nice
finished
look
to
it
and
works
very
well
pulling
and
pushing
even
through
"S"
curves. Pictures of my Tandem Hudsons at work |
Click on Pictures for larger view
|
Here
is
a
picture
of
the
new
parts.
The
American
Models
Coupler
shank
is
bent
to
drop
it
to
the
correct
height.
It
is
bent
by
covering
the
coupler
head
with
aluminum
foil
as
a
heat
shield
and
using
a
small
heat
gun
to
soften
the
shank
just
where
it
joins
to
the
head
and
bend
as
shown.
The 1/8" Aluminum Plate size is not critical. It is tapped for the 4-40 coupler screw and counter sunk for the 6-32 flat head replacement screw that is used to hold the pilot to the steam chest. |
| The Coupler shank has a small hole drilled in it for the centering spring. the spring is made from .02" music wire and formed as shown. Drill the coupler hole to match the dimension of the spring you make. | |
|
The Cow catcher has a slot cut to clear an un-coupler if you need it. |
| This shows the slot cut into the pilot casting for the coupler shank. | |
|
Drill a hole for the centering spring wire. |
| This shows the placement of the spring before the coupler has been installed. | |
|
Finished assembly. |
| Another view of the assembly | |
|
Painted and ready to go. This engine is one I am building from the junkyard and still needs the running gear installed. |
| This is a side shot showing why you need to drop the coupler height by bending the coupler shank. It still is a wee bit high but usable. | |
|
Double header ready to go. |