help, instructions needed for repairing the coupler on my A.F. tender

[flywelder]

The tender to my  American Flyer loco has a broken couple on the tender, so I am unable to connect the remaining cars to the tender.

The moving knuckle  is now missing.

How do I repair this?    and where do I get parts ? Please be detailed in your reply.

I look forward to reading your replies.

Thanks !

[TrainLarry]

You do not give the number of your locomotive, so it will be presumed to be a postwar 'S' gauge unit with a knuckle coupler. Hopefully the main part of the coupler is not damaged, and only the knuckle needs to be replaced. First you need to remove the knuckle rivet. I use a diagonal cutting pliers and grab under the head and clip the head off, then press or pull the remainder of the rivet out of the coupler. New couplers, springs and rivets are available from many sources, including RFGCO, Port Lines Hobby, and Hobby Surplus, to name a few. You insert the new rivet into the coupler body, then the spring, the knuckle, and finally out the bottom of the coupler body. You then set over the open (bottom) end of the rivet with a special tool and anvil, or you just gently squeeze the bottom of the rivet with a pliers to make it slightly out-of-round so that it can not come out. RFGCO sells a separate instruction sheet explaining the repair, or it comes with a kit of 2 knuckles and rivet set.

Let us know how you make out,

Larry