I just purchased a #516 HO scale NYC caboose, in perfect condition.
Here is my question for you Gilbert/American Flyer HO folks out there - how do I get the body off of the caboose off without breaking it to replace the couplers with Kadee’s? There is a pin which seems to be permanent on the underside of the coupler box, does that pull out?
I didn’t want to experiment with it and break the darned thing…and I can’t really see any tabs or anything that I could work with to get it off.
You say that there is a “pin”. On the S-scale equipment the shell is held on the body by four pins, one in each corner of the frame. If it’s the same kind of pin, it’s a press-fit and you should be able to pry it out without damage if you are careful. One word of warning however, Gilbert did not manufacture their HO line themselves. Your caboose is really a Varney. So the rules for their S-scale cabeese may not apply here.
My HO American Flyer caboose has a pin holding the lid of the coupler box on. Pull the pin out and install a #5 with the spring and push the pin back in. You can remove the trucks if you need more space to work. If the pin is too lose you could drill and tap the hole for a 2-56 screw. Never had to take off the body shell. My caboose is 57 years old with the original sprung trucks.
I took my caboose out for a looksee. It is a center coupula NYC, road # 33615. It has a metal floor with a pin in each corner holding it to the shell. I’m not going to remove it just for a look.