I am relatively new to the HO train world as it exists today. I was into trains as a child, and have passed the love onto my 4 year old son. Now entering back into this in over 20 years, I have found that things have changed from the old Tyco days - mostly for the good.
I am having a tremendous amount of difficulty with the various couplers that are out there. I have purchased primarily Bachmann products, and have stuck with the EZ Mate couplers. However, my son seems to be able to convince my wife to buy non-Bachmann products, which mostly have the old style couplers on them. I have read (and re-read) people’s coupler issues. I understand Kadee seems to be the prevailing preference for couplers. I am all for switching and gaining some consistency, however I am at a loss on what to purchase to make the conversion for the various models that are out there.
I have some cars that have a very small pin holding the coupler in the mount (Life-Like I think) and then the Bachmann that have very large pins (or screws) holding the coupler in. I am looking for the simple “converter” or an easy way to put a common coupler into these housings from various manufacturers.
I understand the concept of body mount, and the conversion process that requires some gluing, etc. I just don’t know how to buy these mounts, where, etc. I would love for someone to point me to a source that could say - buy this Kadee for this manufacturer, and it will just snap in, etc. I assumed Bachmann would make either complete trucks or coupler converters, but I cannot find them.
My 4 year old is very careful with his trains, but inevitably ends up with some broken couplers in the end. I am not looking for realism, just something that consistently works that I can convert cars into without causing a ton of work.
I hope there is an easy solution that someone can point me to.
See Kadee’s web site (also in Walter’s catalog and posted in some LHS) for which coupler to use on which manufacturer’s equipment. http://www.kadee.com/conv/list.htm
The Kadee conversion list is about the best going, although you can probably make different model couplers work through your own efforts.
most manufacters have a box on them that the kadee coupler will drop into…but if they don’t fit, then you get a draft gear box with the kadee coupler that you’ll have to mount yourself…it’s pretty easy…take a hobby knife and whittle off the old box…then mount the kadee box with CA glue or model glue to the rolling stock body…now drill a hole into the body at the middle of the draft gear box that will hold a 2-56 screw (kadee makes a drill and tap set for 2-56 screws) now put in the kadee copper spring, the coupler, and the draft gear lower section and screw in the 2-26 screw to hold it all in place (you can get 2-56 screws at ace hardware but will have to get them to order them for you)…you’ll also need the kadee coupler height gauge to insure all the couplers match…if it’s too low, add some shims to the rolling stock truck…if it’s too high, disassemble the draft gear box and add some styrene plastic shims under the draft gear box and remount it…(before you glue it in place)…chuck
I have almost 500 cars on my layout. I have tried all brands of couplers. None work as well as Kadee. Once you get a small pile of the Kadee boxes that come in the package of two pairs of couplers, you can start buying the couplers in bulk and save some money. Usually you won’t need the boxes. Unfortunately the very best inexpensive cars were the Athern and MDC cars, no longer being made. If you can bide your time a little, perhaps smeone wil start making cars to fill the gap. It is not too hard to put couplers on the current inexpensive cars, but none of the cars are very good - they have loose trucks with plastic axels and unprotypical appearance.
I’ve got a few new locomotives, and a number of old ones from the 60’s, plus a bunch of ancient rolling stock. I’ve been slowly converting the horn-hooks to Kadee’s, and the wheelsets to metal. Also, I’ve had to replace the non-Kadee knuckle couplers on my new engines, too.
The good news is that I have never failed to get a satisfactory installation of Kadee’s in anything. There is always a way, and Kadee makes all the parts you’ll need.
The only issue you might have with the Kadee/4yr old combination is with knuckle springs being popped off. As long as you warn him how not to grab the coupler and keep the spares handy that come in the packaging, there shouldn’t be a problem tho. Even after some 30 odd years, I still manage to pop one off every now and then. [:I]
Thanks for all the input. I will be investiagting and working the Kadee couplers into the set as the standard.
On a side note…I just have to say that this is a very good and well-run forum. Maybe its the hobby that brings the right attitude forward. I have been reading for a long time, and participate in other forums on other topics. I just have to say the the people in this forum are very helpful (regardless of level) and go out of they’re way to provide good information. This is just not the case in other forums where unsolicited criticism and ridicule seem to humor the participants.
Thanks again for an excellent resource. I hope someday there is a question I will be able to answer - but I think my 4 year old may beat me to it!
I just started converting some old freight cars I have from horn hook to regular couplers. I used the new Bachman EZMate style and found out that the new couplers are wiggling around in the draft gear box (I haven’t had to mount a draft gear box yet…and don’t look forward to it).
I noticed that the kadee coupler draft gear boxes come with cover for the box on a spruce with some bushings. I’de bet that if I had put these bushings in first the couplers would wiggle right? But I’m not going to disassemble everything to try this. I’m yet to try a kadee coupler project with the drill etc as it doesn’t look like a happy project?
I use KD and McHenry. I think KD would work best for you. (metal vs plastic) What ever you buy, bight the bullet and buy a coupler height gauge, trip pin setting tool and a knuckle spring instalation tool.(all available from KD or Walthers) You’ll be glad you did.[;)]
I order my Kadee couplers in the “Ultra Pack” from http://www.discounttrainsonline.com for the best price. That’s 20 cars worth (40 couplers) and it includes all the centering springs, too, plus a few extra knuckle springs. They also have all the tools discounted.