Did I buy the wrong couplers???

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

Thanks to all that replied about what loco to buy. I figured it out. While I’m waiting on that one to arrive, I’m trying to update an old Bachman SD40-2 (PN# 41-670-23) that came with #2021 couplers. (This loco is 21 years old and never taken out of the box until about a week ago! I bought it for the layout I was going to build in 1987 and I never built it). Anyway, I went to my LHS and bought a pouch of (4) Kadee #5 Magne-Matic couplers, but when I went to switch the old ones out, they don’t match. Did I buy the wrong type, or do I just have to do some “creative craftsmanship” to make them work?? Thanks, Skip

2

Skip,

You should bookmark this link:

http://www.kadee.com/conv/holist.pdf

According to their chart, you’ll need a set of Kadee #27 couplers for your old Bachmann SD40-2 locomotive.

Don Z.

3

Kadee recommends a #27 with under set shank for that loco.
http://www.kadee.com/conv/pdf/b12.pdf

Edit-Dang Don beat me to it![:P]

4

no, I think it need a #27 kadee with under set shank, or is that too much help again…8-D

5

Thanks, Don, lothar, dinwitty…that’s why I love this forum…'cause people like you are out there with a WHOLE lot more knowledge than me OR my LHS!! Thanks again! Skip

6

By “didn’t match,” are you talking about the looks, mounting method, or height of the coupler? Locos this old may have come with the old X2F couplers, mistakenly refered to as the NMRA coupler. The Kadee’s look more like the real thing. Before being concerned by the coupler height, get the Kadee coupler height gauge

http://www.kadee.com/htmbord/page120.htm

All your couplers need to be set up to match the height gauge and the trip pin needs to clear the lip on the gauge. It comes with full instructions. It only costs $5.95 retail and is a one time purchase. Setting all your couplers properly from the start will save you countless headaches in the future. The Kadee conversion list is a guideline not an absolute, the final adjustment should be don to the gauge.

If the Bachmann engine has the coupler mounted to a metal part of the frame and you plan to rund double (or more) header locomotives, you’ll want to stay with the Kadee plastic couplers. However, if this is not a problem or plan, Kadee also makes the offset, short, and long shank couplers in metal, the 40 series.