Greetings,
I have a 30 year old Italian LIMA train that I would like to use if possible. The loco died many years ago, I bought a new one now (in the U.S.) but the couplers are different.
Question: Is there such a thing as an adapter that I can buy to be abler to use the cars or am I out of luck?
Thank you!
Jaime
ajkej@yahoo.com
I’m guessing the Lima models have the European “hook and loop” couplers? Are they European models or US outline, and what brand is the new loco? If the Lima models are US outline I would suggest replacing their existing couplers with Kadees - the #40 series would be a good place to look. www.kadee.com has plenty of information that will be of use in this work.
If the cars and new loco are European then the new loco may well have NEM coupler pockets - many manufacturers offer hook and loop couplers to fit into these, Fleischmann ( www.fleischmann.de ) to name but one. Hope this is of help!
Not sure if they are “hook and loop” couplers, I am new to this. The LIMA train was purchased in Europe about 30 years ago; the old hobby shop in my town told me that those are European couplers and that is all the help they were able to provide.
The new loco is Athearn and it has the Bachman couplers.
Thank you for your help, I’ll see what I can find on these NEM couplers you mentioned.
Jaime Ajke
The NEM coupler pockets are no good for Athearn models - they’re solely a European thing. Sounds like you’ll need to fit Kadees to the cars to allow the train to run. 30 year old cars won’t have the new standard coupler sockets so you’ll have to fit the Kadees onto the frame either by gluing or drilling and bolting. It’s easy enough though it seems a little daunting at the start - visit Kadee’s website and do a little research on the subject, you’ll need one of their height gauges, and possibly the “offset” couplers to get them at the right height. You might also want to consider changing the Bachmann couplers on the loco for Kadees - they function far better and look more realistic. Hope this helps!
If you do not want to use Kadees, an Athearn X2F coupler will fit nicely into a Kadee coupler box: screw that to the bottom of the wagon. BUT, you will need spacers, maybe 1/16", maybe more, between the box and the car floor.
Allan Lees
jajke,
This problem is faced every day here in Australia!
Lima, about thirty years ago, started building the first ready to run models of Australian locomotives and cars. As a result, the Lima coupler became standard for many years, until plastic knuckle couplers like the Bachmann made it practical to mount them on models new.
One company, Powerline www.powerline.com.au has made a Lima coupler that is designed to fit into US style coupler boxes. These come with a “cranked” shaft to give the right coupler height, although these are later European couplers, slightly smaller than the Lima type of the 1970s. they do couple, of course but you need to ensure that the loop of the smaller coupler goes over the hook first.
There might be a problem with a long Athearn loco, like a Dash-8, that the throwover (lateral displacement on curves) might cause the Lima cars to derail on sharp curves. This is because Athearn couplers are mounted on the body , while Lima couplers were usually truck mounted in the period your train was built.
But check the Powerline website - they’ll ship you a set of couplers for a few bucks that should get you going more easily than the oither options.
Peter
When you want to replace US couplers for European style, be sure to use LIMA compatible couplers as from experience I know that Fleishmann couplers do not mix very well with the LIMA style hoop and loop couplers
M636C - I’ve used the Austrains NEM couplers to keep some kids running, but was unaware that Powerline made them! And having had a look at the website, I’m still not certain… the ones on the website look like the couplers that fit into Talgo trucks. Anyway, I’ve just dipped into my coupler collection, and have found an Austrains NEM coupler. I’ll post it to him if he wants it!