Well got the thing, coupler installed and the box is a bit too long. I can't move the coupler out any and am stuck... I have the top of the coupler box flush with the cast "steel" plate where the coupler is. I don't want to attempt to chop the pilot wheels (I messed the term up I think).
I lay the loco on its back in a vee slot cut into a foam block. I then attach two clip leads (wires with alligator clips at each end available from Radio Shack) between the track and the tender trucks, one end to the conducting side of each of the two tender trucks and the other end to rails (or power supply lugs). This applies power to the loco through the tender drawbar. Finally, I turn on a small amount of power so that the drivers turn slowly while I apply a Q-Tip end with 91% alcohol to each driver, one at a time. I may have to use more than one Q-Tip end, depending on how much dirt is on the drivers. To clean the tender trucks, I apply the Q-Tip end, with alcohol, to each conducting wheel on the trucks while I turn the opposite (insulated) wheel on the axle with my finger. CAUTION - Squeeze the Q-Tip end against the neck of the alcohol bottle so that it doesn't drip onto the loco or tender bodies when it's touching the wheels. 91% alcohol can damage plastic, paint, and decals.
You first remove the dummy coupler on the front pilot. Then you take a small diamond cutting bur in a Dremel and open up the dummy coupler box. When the coupler box opening is prepared, you slide the Z scale #905 coupler in position from the front of the loco. If you tapered the coupler box properly the # 905 should slide right in position. You then can shim the # 905 to the correct coupler height and screw it in place. Note**** You don't try and slide the #905 coupler in place from behind the front pilot. It doesn't work out properly. If you look carefully at the assembled coupler, the coupler box tapers from front to back. In the days before using the Z scale #905, we used N scale 1015's in a 2004 coupler box and never had any interference of the coupler box and the front pilot wheels. This coupler is almost twice the size of the Z scale # 905. In any event have fun....
I am pretty sure that this is a Z coupler. I am in office now and can not verify. I also don't recognize the layout shot, so it is someone else's, probably PowersteamGuy.
Mark; That's a very old photo of mine. It was the first Z scale coupler I installed on a Spectrum 2-8-0. My technique for this installation has changed since that photo. Also to note is the absence of ballast on the Unitrack. The Unitrack was ballasted in 2004.
Here is a more recent photo of a MT Z scale # 905 coupler installed on the front pilot of a Walthers 0-8-0.
