K LINE EP-5 ELECTRIC PILOT

Lew this is the best place for k-line parts. I think i seen a pilot for ep-5 on his parts list. http://www.traindoctor.com/

Think it's high time someone designed a 3D-printed replacement for one of these, or at least cloned a good one with RTV molds?

It seems there a few structural weaknesses in these pilots that might've have been addressed had the tooling been acquired for re-use/re-issue.

---PCJ

JB-Weld is your friend.

Thanks for the info.  Replacement part is not on Brassuer's current list, but I have a call into them.  Gunrunnerjohn--is that J-B Weld an adhesive that will really work?  I assume I have to pull the truck to try to reconstruct the pilot from the two pieces I have.

Lew

Correct, I've put a number of steamer pilots back together with it, and they are still going strong.  Many times the part isn't available, so I just rebuild the old one.  Nobody had brought them back for a replacement.

JB-Weld Twin Tube

I end up using the fast setting stuff a lot as well.

KwikWeld Twin Tube

Home Depot, Lowes, Ace, etc. all carry it.

Thanks GRJ.  Hope I don't cement my fingers together!!!

Lew

Lew, I thought you threw that thing out.  I recently gave one to Al Peters.  He might still have it.  I do not think the pilot was rotted away yet.

John is right on the JB.  I am also abig fan.

There was just another thread about this a few days ago. Lew. You might check that out, too. There were issues with bad castings on these pilots (some call it zinc rot), and they can be very brittle. I've replaced two of them. 

GRJ is right on. JB Weld is the strongest epoxy I know of. When everything else fails, try it. Or better, try it first.  It's a company from the unlikely spot of Sulphur Springs, Texas, 80 mi. east of Dallas (been by the plant, unfortunately, no free samples!). Their faster-drying KwikWeld that John mentions is good stuff, too. It's not as strong as the regular JB Weld, but would be plenty strong for something like these pilots. 

Since it takes a bit to set, you can usually free your fingers.  It's not quite as fast as CA adhesive.

I have found an OK replacement for the K Line EP5 apron. I purchased the aprons for a Williams. I used the metal ones because they look similar to the K Line ones. I had to drill new holes and grind off the two pins but they look pretty good. You can also adapt the Williams plastic aprons but they are not as detailed. The pictures show the metal ones.