We removed a bad coupler awhile back and now need to get the replacement back on.
The blog linked below will explain what’s going on.

http://www2.irm.org/blogs/archives/741- ... -2010.html

We have had a few interesting suggestions, but I thought someone here may know the proper/safe method or getting this back together.

Shove the car against the bumper post and use a forklift or crowder arm on a backhoe to shove the coupler into the pocket. Send your most troublesome, obnoxious member down to insert the key in case something moves unexpectedly.

Seriously, folks, I've seen wire rope home built compressors fail and whip around trying to do this job. Caught between two heavy inert objects is probably as safe as you can get.

dave

Not sure about that route - perhaps getting some of the dismal guys to help would be a bit safer. Using locos on each end with working brakes might be the better option. I am aware that at Hayne Shop in Spartanburg, SC, and Coster Shop in Knoxville, Southern carmen who rebuilt the cushion draft gears used a press and pins or keepers to keep the draft gear compressed. I'd check around and see if I could find one from a railroad rip track, car shop or parts supplier that is compressed. Because of the stored energy, they can be quite dangerous to handle. I have had more than one former carman tell me that compressing the rebuilt gears and inserting the keepers was widely regarded as one of the most dangerous jobs at Hayne.

On another note, what was wrong with the other coupler? Beyond wear limits or cracked? Or was it something else?

Be careful,
Mike

Mike has the right idea. When a draft gear was removed for any reason, it was not reinstalled until it was gagged. The draft gear was sent out to a shop that would compress it about an inch in a press. Then a hole was drilled through the case into the interior element and a rawhide plug was installed. This would keep the draft gear compressed to allow for its installation. The first time the car was impacted in a switching yard, the rawhide plug would be sheared and the draft gear would assume its normal configuration.

Finally replaced our problem coupler. Wanted to thank here for the help as well as let the group see how we did it. Sorry I missed it but Bob posted the fix on the Blog.

http://www2.irm.org/blogs/archives/753- ... -2010.html

Nice to have two big diesels and people who know what they’re doing when it comes to big jobs like this.