I'm looking at buying a 1997 Life-Like E7 and according to .... http://www.spookshow.net/loco/lle678.html ... installing MTL couplers is not easy. Has anyone done it or have a link to doing it? Looks like they might be 1128 in the rear and 1021 in the front. Thanks, Sumner
I have an ABA set of 1997 E7's. I used Unimate dummy couplers between units as mine will not be uncoupled. I forget what I used on the front of the A units but I think it was a Kato coupler. I have since used the LifeLike shells on the Kato E8 chassis (as Spookshow suggests) and I plan to used the B unit to mount a decoder and possibly two speakers. The A units already have decoders but without sound.
Thanks, I found a decoder install for the Life-Like and want to go that way at first. So before changing to the Kato chassis did you have MTL on the back of either the A or B unit? Also is there a source for just the chassis alone? Thanks, Sumner
I have a Life-Like Alco PA that uses a shorter version of the E-unit's plastic frame construction. MTL recommends the same couplers for conversion. IIRC, the front 1021 coupler was easy to install. Getting the 1128 to stay in place in the rear is tricky. You have to trim back (not completely) the little post the Rapido coupler spring sits on. I trimmed a little at a time with a fresh #11 blade and offered up the MTL 1128 coupler pocket after every cut, until the top of the MTL coupler pocket was flush with the top of the truck-mounted draft gear box. However, when I had finished I still had to add styrene shims behind the MTL coupler pocket to keep the coupler from drooping. I second Inkaneer's suggestion on fitting Unimates to any sets you don't plan on uncoupling. I do this for the A-B connections on my E-R Sharks. My PA operates on its own so I keep the rear coupler operational.
The B unit had Unimates both ends. The A units had Unimates on the rear. The Unimates draw the units very close together, much closer than the MT's. My Kato E8A chassis are the same as the LifeLike E7's in that they have a truck mounted coupler on the back of the A units. The LifeLike E7B unit also has truck mounted couplers both ends.
If I am remembering correctly when I had my LL E7s the front coupler was replaced with MT 1015s on the A unit. I bleieve it was simple remove the pin holding the dummy coupler in and then sliding the 1015 in place and either replace the pin or secure with the screws provided with a pack of 1015s.
