Like many others here I purchased a brand new SD70ACe, a few months ago. Nice unit that runs fine. But I couldn't satisfy myself with the truck mounted AZL (ie non-Magnematic) coupler. Here is what I've done in order to set the unit to "my standard". (my goal beeing setting the locomotive's front side to prototypical appearance and ability to perform hand-off switching duties - I let the locomotive's aft side to AZL in-factory standard and appearance as this unit will be coupled back to back with a Ferromex GE GEVO when it's available) -Pull the shell away from its chassis, -Cut truck's coupler arm. A pair of cutting pliers were ok for that, that took less than one second to do that, -setting a new pilot (part #AZL Model: 61099-5) in place between shell's fwd lateral stairs. A little bit tricky, I had to do some filing before parts match. -remove matching grey/black snowplow. Very easy, one has to simply pull it forward. -removing AZL coupler box, that is simply screwed to place -swapping it with a MTL #905 coupler box and setting the screw back in place (a little bit tricky as well, just to be able to insert screw head in its thread) -cutting locomotive's original zebra striped snowplow from its pilot, that holds an articulated AZL coupler arm and knuckle. -glueing the snowplow on the new pilot, tacking care of not blocking MTL coupler box, arm and knuckle. With CA glue. A little bit tricky as nothing holds snowplow in place as long as glue is not dry. I held the locomotive vertically nose up on a matress and blocked it into position between two pillows, just to avoid snowplow slippering in a random position before glue sets. Hope this helps, Dom
Great Job! does look really great with the MTL coupler! Now to do some transport of materials to see how it works with the new coupler! I bought two of the CSX's I would like to do the same to. It would be cool if they designed them where they would be able to change out and come with a set of MTL couplers!
Thank you for the kind comment. I do agree with you about the should-be coupler option.... BTW I'll try one of these days to find time to take a video of how it works. Dom
Good news for those of you guys who own an ES44AC : the procedure for coupler swap and snowplow insertion is exactly the same as the ACe's. Here is my afternoon's work today. BTW, if the moderator wanted to change this post's tittle into "Swapping AZL SD70ACe and ES44AC coupler", I would be very grateful. Dom
