Got yet another one for my Forum friends: What is the best way to put Kadee couplers on a Tyco crane car? The stock trucks are the plug trucks with truck mounted couplers. Usually I replace plug trucks with something like an Athearn-type truck by putting tube or something similar to fill the hole to attach the trucks with a 2-56 screw and body mount the couplers. (I have done this with a bunch of Tyco caboose.) As usual any assistance that can be provided would be most welcomed.
Oh bah! I was just about to start this exact project in my Tampa “dorm room” workshop when I lost my job.
Now it is all packed away.
-Kevin
So, why not continue to do that?
The other option, with out replacing the truck, and body mounting the coupler, is the Kadee Talgo adpter, which lets you put a Kadee coupler in the excisting Talgo style truck.
Kadee part # KAD212.
Mike.
Replacing the trucks was the original plan. I just wanted other opinions. It seems like I do thinks the hard way at points.
Kadee publishes a “what fits what” list giving their recommendations for couplers to fit every piece of HO rolling stock ever made. Although you can warp a #5 Kadee into almost anything, you can save yourself a lot of hacking and filing and cussing by going with the recommendation in the “what fits what” list. In particular hot chassis locomotives want insulating couplers. When I convert truck mounted couplers (talgo couplers) to body mount I just snip off the coupler mount from the factory talgo trucks and re install them. Works good for me.
Hello All,
I have several of these vintage Tyco crane sets.
These car sets were one of the first “add on” cars that I received on my first pike as a child.
When I was getting back into this great hobby these were one of the first things I bought along with the starter set.
I have tried the Kadee Talgo replacement method/system.
Yes, it does convert the Hook-And-Horn couplers to Kadees but it does not solve the problems associated with truck-mounted couplers.
As others have posted, cut the gearboxes off and body mount the couplers.
Cranes need to be pulled and shoved. With truck-mounted couplers shoving cars can cause derailments.
Body mounting the couplers will alleviate this problem.
Hope this helps.