These cars are best judged at end sills, even though at close distances, the strikers are very evident. The distance from endsill to box corner posts varied over time and design. The Walthers version came with EZ couplers.
USING CAD DRAWINGS a thorough evaluation is made.
First the car must be measured. The striker to end sill reference is .042" = 3.659", while the common prototype distance is 4 1/2". Measuring the end corner is difficult due to rivets and grabs, The easiest way is to measure the endsill and corner post distances from the brake platform and subtract for the difference. The endsill to end corner = .081" = 7.056" . The cast-on coupler box front is at the striker. The striker to post front is .177" and the post OD = .123" for striker to mounting center = .239". The box is .468" long.
Found from Measuring Couplers, the EZ pulling face to stud rear = .565". The pulling face to mounting center with this box is .565 - .069 = .496". Of note the play between coupler hole = .138" and post is a very sloppy .015", pointing out the inconsistency of box design.
The heavy line is the end sill reference, the solid line to the right is the model striker and to the left is the corner post line.
Based on prototype data, at the bottom, dashed in are the endsill and to the right at 4 1/2" is the striker. The far right dashed line is the pulling face at 15" from the striker. The prototype pulling face to endsill reference is 19 1/2" for 39" endsill separation. The endsill to end corner = 6", while the model = 7". The end corner to end corner separation = 51"
Note: Adjust brightness and contrast for optimum viewing.
EZ WITH 53.84" SPACING
The pulling face to reference = .307" = 26.74" for 53.48" spacing or 9.6" too wide. The pulling face to end corners = .388" = 33.8" for a toy-like separation of 67.6" or 16.6 too wide.
Since the pulling face to striker = .182 = 15.85", to achieve prototype spacing, including horn striker clearance only the Accumate Pro can be mounted
Note: Adjust brightness and contrast for optimum viewing.
ACCUMATE PRO WITH 43.875" PROTOTYPE SPACING
After removing the center post, the Accumate Pro box can be slid in. The striker to mounting center = .168". Since The coupler box front is at the striker. the box lip must be removed.
The same technique can be used with other flats by measuring the striker to endsill distance. Due to design inconsistencies, they vary drastically.
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