Hello to all! I need some help. I have two of the newer N Scale Atlas GP-35 diesels painted for the Housatonic Railroad. I need help with swapping couplers. I know I should be tarred & feathered, but I still use Rapido couplers…sorry.
I’ve accumulated lots of rolling stock over the years & I don’t want to invest in swapping to more prototypical couplers. The Atlas diesels came supplied with Atlas’s newer couplers already installed, but a set of Rapidos was included with each one. I want to swap the couplers but I’ve only gotten as far as removing the newer-style ones. I have the exploded diagram for the locos as supplied by Atlas, but I can’t quite figure how to install the Rapidos. For each one there’s the coupler itself, a snap-in plastic retainer & a thin strip-type spring.
Can anyone walk me though how to install the Rapidos in these locos? I think I’d have better access if I could remove the body shells, but I can’t figure that out either & I don’t want to break anything.
Help please?
Thanks
don’t worry about not wanting knuckles I have a ton of stuff with Rapidos still.
Could you post some pictures because on all of my stuff there are two different types of ends on the couplers, I’ll post a couple two.
yes removing the shell helps give better access but hold tight.
pictured are two bachmann locos with different coupler pockets.
bottom of 4137 the GP40
the bottom 5491 U36b
then the two different couplers the one on the top fits around a small circle and has holers on the side that allow for more flexibility, the one on the bottom has a spring behind the coupler and doesn’t have anything covering the top of the coupler pocket.
Are your couplers body or truck mounted?
My locos have body-mounted couplers. Here’s a photo that shows the underside of the loco & the three pieces to install. How does the shell come off? I tried pulling out on the sides a little but I’m afraid I’ll break something.
http://s1278.beta.photobucket.com/user/peterawilson1/media/GP-35.jpg.html#/user/peterawilson1/media/GP-35.jpg.html?&_suid=
actually you don’t even need to remove the shell for this.
http://www.katousa.com/N/general/Hoodcoupler.html
follow the instructions in the link, yes the aren’t the same loco but the coupler system is exactly the same.
Thanks to all who responded for excellent help! I was able to install the couplers, no problem. This forum is an excellent resource & I couldn’t have done it without you!
you’re welcome, fellow N scaler.