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700E pilot holes

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  • Member since
    March 2009
  • 492 posts
700E pilot holes
Posted by arkady on Thursday, February 25, 2021 9:50 AM

I am trying to install a replacement pilot for a Lionel 700E.  Trouble is, neither of the replacements I've looked at have the holes for installing the pivot rods for the 700E's scale front coupler.

Obviously, I'm going to have to drill them myself.  But the precise alignment and spacing of the holes seems fairly critical.  Does anyone have any advice or information on exactly where the holes should be placed?

Thanks in advance.

  • Member since
    March 2009
  • 492 posts
Posted by arkady on Monday, March 1, 2021 11:26 AM

Never mind.  I searched online for photos of installed 700E pilots.  Based on what I saw, I was able to make an informed guess about the spacing of the holes.  I drilled them out and installed the scale coupler.

The only real problem I had was dealing with the teensie-weensie little nuts that Lionel used to hold the forward mounting rod in place.  Once I solved that difficulty, everything was done.  My 783 now has a proper 700E pilot and front scale coupler.

Next up will be mounting the operating coupler release mechanism.  But that'll be another story.

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