i wanted to close couple my SF F units from 2003 but also wanted them to be reversible if needed. I also did not want to use Kadee scale couplers.
i may have found a solution by using dummy couplers from Lionel made for the centipede. It reduces the space by quite a bit to where there is about a quarter inch between the units. They are also at the correct hight.
Take a look. Original on the left and the dummy coupler on the right.
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Dave,
Do you have a photo of the finished project? Maybe a before and after shot?
I like your idea, interested in the difference it made. Someday I may have to move into the diesel world and will keep this in the back of mind!
Nice Dave, good work ferreting these out. Do you have a part number for these?
Pete
Aaron,
Not completed yet but I will post pictures when done.
Norton,
The coupler number is 6304678055, May not be a perfect fix but it works well so far and the units is about 1/4" apart.
David, your 'before' shots seem to show a working (electro?) coupler. Did the units come with working couplers instead of dummies in the rear?
From what I can see, when coupled the units will not be 1/4" apart, but there will be a 1/4" space between the diaphragms. 
I'm guessing that Kadees would allow the diaphragms to softly touch.
Professor, all of the units come with an electro coupler on the rear. The Power A units also have a working coupler on the front as well.
Jim, with the supplied couplers there is 3/4" between the diaphrams. Kadees will allow the diaphrams to touch but David's solution is huge improvement over stock and should not compromise the minimum recommended diameters.
Pete
David's solution is huge improvement over stock and should not compromise the minimum recommended diameters.
Pete
Pete, I totally agree.
Guys, SantaFeJim you are correct that the distance between units is between the diaphragms not the units as I stated earlier.
Also replacing the electro coupler is the same as the dummy on the other end. The only thing you have to do is remove the wires attached to the coupler.
The same effect was available with the super short shank MTH couplers, which also work really well on his subway cars. Such a conversion gets you so close, you'll likely have to remove at least part of your diaphagms....depending on your radii.
They look good and work well.
A job well done Dave,
Ralph
At the bottom is a standard 2" Lionel EC, next is a 1.5" short Lionel EC, and finally 1.25" MTH DD-4000005 dummy coupler. I believe I also have some Lionel EC units between 1.5 and 2.0 as well.
One of those options should allow most spacing adjustments.
I like it!Gunrunnerjohn, I have been trying to search the Lionel parts website to get a part number for the shorter 1.5 inch electrocoupler but I can't seem to find the correct search words to identify the part #.... do you know a part number, or the locomotive that it was supplied on ?
Any help would be most appreciated. Chris a
Here's the short 1.5" Lionel coupler.
P.S. I just noticed you said EC, I don't happen to have a number for those. They were taken off upgrades or scrapped trucks and are just in my parts box. It's possible they're Atlas and not Lionel couplers.
Here's a few electrocouplers that are in that ballpark.
| 6108316656 | COIL COUPLER / MNT A / LENGTH: 1.55" / NO CONN. | $10.00 |
| 6108326550 | COIL COUPLER / MNT A / LENGTH: 1.54" / NO CONN. | $10.00 |
| 6209893550 | COIL COUPLER / MNT D / LENGTH: 1.65" / NO CONN. | $10.00 |
John, thanks very much for taking the time... You're the best. Chris a
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