ho scale train

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

I have an older tyco ho scale train that is aprox. 25 yrs old and just purchased a new Bachmann ho scale train for my kids…Is there a way to change the undercarriage (coupler) of the tyco freight cars so I can use them with the new Bachmann set???

Thanks
B

2

Yes. There’s 2 ways to do it. There is an easy way with McHenry couplers. You remove the Tyco coupler(called a horn hook) These have a 1/16" hole in them. McHenrys have a 1/8" hole. Cut up a Q-Tip stem into short peices and glue them onto the little tit that the horn hook pivoted on. You can then mount a McHenry right onto that without having to do any cutting or modifying.
Or you can cut the whole truck mounted coupler off the trucks and buy couplers that have “draft gear” boxes with them (such as a Kadee brand coupler) You then screw and mount the whole assembly onto the body of the car itself.
Both Kadee and McHenry desribe how to do this on their web sites.
The second way is the prefered method but the first one will work easier for a kids layout.
NOTE-Some bending and tweeking WILL be required to make the new couplers work right.
Good luck and[#welcome]

3

I just upgraded 1 engine and 15 cars to knuckle couplers, from the horn hook couplers. I ordered Magic Mate, by IHC. I got them from www.1stplacehobbies. I wasn’t sure how they would work out so I only ordered 2 packs. (1 pack does 4 cars) They installed very easily and took almost no adjustment to get them to work. I only had to shim one car. The shims come with the set. Now I need to get a couple more packs (I have a lot of old stuff to upgrade)

4

http://www.mchenrycouplers.com/
Here’s the site. Look at coupler #56 and you’ll get the idea.These are for the 1st easy method.
http://www.1stplacehobbies.com/cgi-bin/prod.asp?pn=348-19001 (this is those magic mates. Those might work best for you.)

5

[#welcome][#welcome] to the forum rock87!!!

Victor

Happy Railroading.[swg][swg]

6

I remember those old tyco sets . My father got me one when ,I was a kid. It was the spirt of 76’. It had the red white and blue GP engine.I wish I still had it. We had a fire and it was destroyed . That was my first set

7

also get the kalmbach book deiseil detailing projects as this book describes how to body mount knuckle couplers on a locomotive

tom