Need Advice on Legacy Electro Couplers

I have made several couplers butter smooth by removing the knuckle and smoothing all the mating surfaces.  This was suggested by Boxcar Bill here in the forum, and it works very well.  They went from the "crash" coupling to some of the smoothest couplers that I've ever had.

Thanks John. I think I remember that topic if it was recent. Is this something easily done with the electrocouplers?

The only sticking point is removing the rivet and putting a new one in.  It's not that big a deal, but it's a lot easier with the right tool.

Scott I had the same problem that I fixed by using MTH couplers.  They come in two lengths and the proto1 are about 7 ohms and the proto2 are about 4 ohms.  All the older Atlas and Lionel engines that I have done took the proto1 couplers.

Don't try to use a PS/2 coupler on the Lionel boards, it doesn't work well and will frequently take out the triac.  The impedance of the PS/2 coupler is much too low for the Lionel stuff.  PS/1 couplers work fine for Lionel.

Think I'll try your original approach first John. I feel better about rivet remove and replace as a first try. I don't have access to any PS1 couplers.

Drop me an email if you want a PS/1 coupler, I think I have a couple.

Thanks John, would like to try your first option since I have many car couplers that need improvement. Do you have a recommendation for a tool that can remove and replace rivets?

Thanks

I use the Brakeman's Rivet Tool for any riveting I need to do.  It makes the job easier, though you can use a center punch and light hammer.  You have to have three hands for the hammer and center punch, that's why I picked up this tool.

For removing them, it depends on how loose they are.  If there's some play, I try to crush one end or nip it off and pull them out.  If there's no play, I normally have to drill them out.

Whoa, very impressive and specifically for model trains!

Here's what the Brakeman's website recommends for $100:

If you don't want to spend more than $100.00, the "Original Riveting (O-Gauge) Starter Set" for $100.00 (first three items on the list at the top of this page) is a good choice. It will allow you to do most Lionel "Post War" riveting repairs including knuckle couplers, slide shoes, armature spring rivets and a host of other small and mid-sized rivets. If you do not need to replace trucks, then the Original Riveting Starter Set for O-Gauge is for you.

Will this set be good for the knuckle couplers on modern o gauge? Sure looks like it.

Thanks!

Yep, that's probably my most common use.  I have both of the spring tools, and the larger one is good for truck rivets and other larger rivets.  I fixed a bunch of 022 switches some time back, it was easy when you have the proper tools to take the contact plates and the like off.

I don't have the big blocks that were specific for certain engines, I figured the chance that I'd need those was pretty small.  I did spring for the nice wooden box, it's a handy place to keep all the parts.