A while back I purchased a brand new P2K SD9 locomotive on eBay. It appears it’s never been ran and I really have no idea when it was manufactured. I finally had it out of the box today and tried running it. I’ve noticed it has the old “horn hook” (?) couplers installed and obviously before this unit is going to be of any use to me I need to swap out the couplers with knuckle style ones. I noticed in the instruction manual that it says “SD9 Coupler Package (Contains: 2 each SD9 coupler pockets, couplers.)”. My question is this can this easily be converted to knuckles style couplers in these so called “pockets”? I’ve been putting Kadee’s on my rolling stock and other locomotives (new and old units) and I’m hoping that I can do the same for this unit. I can’t seem to remove the box that’s currently holding the couplers I’m trying to replace and I sure don’t want to break something by forcing it to hard.
If it is like my SD7 and other P2K, remove the screws from the coupler pockets and slide the pockets out. Sometimes they are tight but should just slide out. Kadees fit in the pockets.
It will accept the Kadee’s w/o any trouble at all. If you decide to use a different plow you may need to use the long centerset coupler. Many will think that since the #5 coupler works on the loco w/ their choice of plow, that it will couple properly. There can be interference from an oposing trip pin hitting the bottom applied plow. This is only a concern if your prototype uses it.
WOW!!! That’s an old one, if it was truely NOS the body should have come seperate from the chassis, apparently this is not the case but no biggie. If my memory serves me correctly those couplers are held in place by a plastic “clip”. Look on the sides of the present coupler box, you should be able to slip a “small” screwdriver under the side and apply just a little outward pressure and the clip should release.
This guy is about 10-15 years old, don’t remember for sure but it’s been a long time since they came with the old X2F couplers.
P.S. Those couplers covers are “engineering plastic” so there should be some give to them without breaking.
Mark
WGAS
A Kadee #33 is the official suggestion from Kadee:
http://www.kadee.com/conv/pdf/l335.pdf
Depending on what run that the engine was manufactured, you may be abe to use a #23 coupler:
http://www.kadee.com/conv/pdf/l174.pdf
My SD7/9’s all have the same frame…
Jim Bernier
Thanks a lot guys. This is exactly why I asked this question.
First of all, shortly after I posted my original post/inquiry I was able to very easily pop the coupler box cover off. It came off much easier than I expected it to and I’m almost wondering how it would have pulled anything with it that lose. Anyway, I’m glad I asked because I had no idea about a #33 Kadee conversion kit which appears to be exactly what I need.
It very well could be 10+ years old. As I said I really have no idea but all I know is it looks brand new. I just wanted to make sure it ran so I placed it on my small DCC layout and ran it in forward and reverse using the “00” address. It runs but seems a bit dry.
FWIW it’s a BN P2K with the road number 6232. I don’t know what these should normally go for but I think I got a good deal as I paid just under $76 (including shipping). The box states it’s “NO. 21228”.