|
USA Trains 20 Tonner, GP 7/9 and GP 38-2
USA recommends the 785 coupler kit for all three of the engines listed
above along with the same installation techniques. I have a GP 7 and a GP 38 but would
guess that the conversion is going to be the same on the 20 Tonner so you might want to
read this page to get an idea of what you will need to do... On my Geep's the installation
was the same with one minor exception on the GP 38. I have a brass plow installed so the
coupler gear box needed to be trimmed back to allow room for the coupler to swing in the
opening on the plow blade.
 Here
we have the new Kadee 785 coupler in the upper left corner with the new centering spring,
bushing and body stops below. On the right side is the stock USA knuckle coupler with it's
mounting bracket. On this conversion the only thing we use from the original installation
is the coupler post.
 The
conversion is pretty simple on both versions of the Geep's. The installation sheet that
comes with the 785 is strait forward and easy to use. We basically assembled the coupler
per the instructions, removed the USA coupler and replaced it with the new Kadee. Work
time is just minutes but, there is some gluing required. Looking at the picture to the
left you will see a black block on either side of the new coupler. I used some model glue
to attach the blocks and set the engine aside for a couple of hours to dry. The blocks are
installed to limit the movement of the coupler. If you let the coupler go without stopping
it someplace it will flip past the centering spring and get stuck.
 If you can see closely enough, you will notice that I had to trim part of the
gear box off on the front side. This was necessary to clear the snow plow on the front of
my GP 38-2 engine. Sooner or later the same modification will need to be done for my GP 7
so I can put it's snow plow back on too.
 The finished conversion looks great on the this engine and works like a dream.
The height is also right on when checked with the gauge. As soon as I add the detail parts
back on the front of the engine you won't know it's a toy!
| 
JJ & C RailRoad