Searching Forum & Replacing truck mounted couplers for frame mount

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

Good Evening

I believe I have checked everything but do not seem to see a area to do a search on forum topics such as replacing couplers.

This brings me to my next question, I gather it is recommended to convert rolling stock from truck mounted couplers to frame mount. I would like information and/or recommendations on the do’s and don’t.

Thanks

Jeff Sarsons

2

Don’t know about the replacing couplers question but the search you want is about half way down the screen on the right and is labelled “Search our Community”. I’ve used it several times since the change in forum format and it worked for me.

3

Jeff [#welcome]

What scale are you working in? It may make a difference in the how-tos.

For HO scale:
Assuming you would be using Kadee couplers and installing them on 40 to 60 foot freight cars. Longer cars, like passenger cars, may need other procedures. The first tool you would need would be a Kadee coupler height gage.
http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/380-205

Before your work on the couper, you need to decide what to do about the trucks. Will you keep them or replace them? If you keep the trucks, will you change from plastic to metal wheels? These changes may affect the height of the car, and has been discussed in other threads.

Once the trucks are sorted out, you need to select a coupler, usually Kadee #5 coupers are the ones to use. They come in a number of packages:
2 pair: http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/380-5
10 pair: http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/380-10
20 pair: http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/380-11
Note that the 10 and 20 packs do not have the draft gear boxes which you will need to convert from truck mounted couplers to body mounted.
http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/380-232

Another tool you will need is a drill and tap set and some #2-56 screws. A hand drill would be a good tool for the drilling and tapping - I feel that an electric drill tends to go too fast.
http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/380-246
http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/38

4

Good Evening

Many many thanks for all of the excellents comments and information. I was just looking at the rolling stock I have now acquired from buy up a couple of “N” Scale Estates packages, and notice the different type of wheels and coupler. I would not have detected this type of problem before trying to operate same.

Again thanks.

Jeff Sarsons

5

Good Evening

Thanks for the info. Now I got it. There had to be a way of searching many years of hard work.

Thanks

Jeff

6

A thought about this, you might give this a try…

http://www.nmra.org/beginner/consist.html#rolling

7

A thought about this, you might give this a try…

http://www.nmra.org/beginner/consist.html#rolling

8

Hi Roger

Better late than never but this is a super link. Many thanks.

Jeff

9

Yes, it is generally recommended to convert truck mounted couplers to frame mount. While both methods will perform well when cars are being pulled, cars with truck mounted couplers tend to derail because the force of the push will be slightly off center causing the truck to twist in relation to the track centerline and invite a wheel to climb the rail. The effect is compounded when pushing multiple cars.

Jim