AMS/Accucraft coupler compatibility...

Garden Railroading
1

As I am new to the whole large scale thing, I have been trying to do as much research as possible before purchasing anything. I have decided that F scale narrow gauge is the size I am most interested in, and I really like the look of that scale on the track. In looking at different brands of rolling stock, I have decided to go pretty exclusively with the AMS trains products. They are beautiful models, and really fit my general requirements for rolling stock.

The one question I have about the AMS rolling stock concerns the couplers. Although they appear to be oversized, I really like the working cut levers and would like to keep this feature if possible. I realize that Accucraft locomotives probably come equipped with this coupler style (I’m not 100% sure about this though), but the Spectrum locomotives I have been looking at do not and these are going to be the mainstay of my railroad. Does anyone make a coupler conversion for these locomotives to allow proper operation with the AMS style coupler, or do the B-mann couplers work just fine? I really haven’t been able to find any information about this and thought this might be a good place to ask.

Thanks in advance!

Jeff

2

Jeff
Kadee coupler conversions for the bachmann locos work well with the AMS ones, you won’t have a working cut lever on the loco but the one on the AMS stock will release the coupling ok. The Kadee conversion will also put the couplers at a matching height. If you have a look in the magazine index you’ll find an article about coupler brand compatibility, sorry can’t remember which issue. hope this helps

3

I put Kadee #1 or G scale couplers on everything except the AMS stock cars, and have had no problems with coupling. I agree that the AMS actual working cut lever is a nice touch that I have never seen any other manufacturer duplicate, so I will definitely keep the AMS couplers. The AMS trucks are another problem – mine don’t roll at all well, so I have ordered some ball bearings to put into the sideframes.

4

The august 2003 issue of GR has a great article on coupler compatibility. You can also download this article from GR for a fee. The article states that the Bachmann and the Accucraft couplers are incompatible. [:(]