Upgrading couplers

shelbys_dad

New Member
I have an under-the-tree-only HO set - Bachmann McKinley Explorer. If you haven't guessed, the cars do not stay coupled very well and it's frustrating to step away for 3 minutes only to come back and find the Loco pushing a few cars. What are my options and where can I purchase upgrades?
 

PWRR-2207

Rogue Islander
I have had good luck with Kaydee (Kaydee Quality Products, Co) conversion/replacement couplers. I checked the list and they make a #37 for the EMD GP-40 engine and passenger cars in the set (or you can use #454 on the cars). Here is a link to their conversions list:

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

PS: Get a piece of soft foam or something to gently hold the engine or car upside down (or a second pair of hands) as the little coupler pieces like to dive onto the floor when you try and put the screw to them.
 
Kadees or nothing...nothing seems to work better
but be preapred for work installing them on bachmann cars if they a re the older models., take one car to the store with you to get the correct coupler
 

shelbys_dad

New Member
Kadees or nothing...nothing seems to work better
but be preapred for work installing them on bachmann cars if they a re the older models., take one car to the store with you to get the correct coupler

Uh, yea, about that. There are no hobby shops here in Fairbanks, Alaska that really support this hobby. There are like 2 that sell some things, but with a 300%-400% mark-up. It's waay cheaper for me to mail order or buy online even with shipping.:cry:
 

Kevinkrey

Member
Uh, yea, about that. There are no hobby shops here in Fairbanks, Alaska that really support this hobby. There are like 2 that sell some things, but with a 300%-400% mark-up. It's waay cheaper for me to mail order or buy online even with shipping.:nope:

If you need help and cant get it at a hobby shop, im sure somebody here could post a short video clip to help if you need. There are very helpful people here.
 

nkp174

Active Member
No, not yet:eek:ops:

That'd be quite the drive!

How about taking a picture of the couplers (and how they're attached to the cars/engine) and uploading it? It actually is easy to install kadees on older bachmann cars. The classic HO coupler is the Kadee #5 with draft gear boxes. Kadee also provides tips on how to convert stuff.
 

60103

Pooh Bah
There is another source of uncoupling problems that you may have. If the track bumps up and down too much (if you run part of it on a rug and part on a floor, or run electrical cords under it) any couplings may come apart. The cure is to put it on a flat solid surface. (A sheet of extruded foam insulation may be the quickest and should be easy to get in Alaska.) You may try this as it's faster than sending out for couplers, and it's a good idea anyway. (If you already have a flat surface, sorry.)
 

shelbys_dad

New Member
First off please excuse the poor quality, I must have taken 40 pics and these are the "cough" best "cough" out of the bunch. Good grief.

coupler2.jpg


coupler1.jpg



To 60103-- It is on a flat surface and that was one of the first things I thought of, but thanks for being thoughtful:thumb::thumb:
 

60103

Pooh Bah
Well, those couplers are Kadee clones, which are an improvement on the ones that used to come with all train sets (and still come with a lot of them). Check them for height. There is a correct height, but more important is the same height. Put a length of track on a table and look at two cars coupled from the side. The couplers should be level -- none of one coupler showing above the other. The pin that comes down should be higher than the rails by a small amount -- you should see daylight between the end and the rails as you look across (I think .010" is the official clearance.)
Check all your cars and the loco. Double check the ones that keep uncoupling. If you find any that are high or low we'll work on that.
Do you have any switches or crossings? then you have to be fussy about the uncoupling pins. They often need to be bent a little more to be higher. (Also applies to the rerailer)
Do you have uncoupling magnets? I don't know if the sets come with them. If the train jerks a little as it goes over the magnet, it will uncouple.
While you're at it, check that the coupler springs back to center when you push it to the side.
Sorry to go on, but we may get you running before the mail comes back from Seattle.
 

shelbys_dad

New Member
Thanks for the 411.
Just a simple 63"X45" oval, no bells not even a whistle.
I'll try those suggestions in the morning, right now I need him to do his homework before bed. All I'm hearing right now is......."No daddy, I'll do it in the morning.....here, let me turn the train on 40%!"
AHHHH The joys of parenting.wall1
 
N

nachoman

Those cars have an interesting pivoting mechanism that pivots the coupler as the trucks swings. At least mine does, but it has the old horn-hook couplers. Since you have some kind of kadee clone on yours, my bet is if you take the screw off the coupler box, you can remove the old coupler and drop a kadee #5 right in.

Kevin
 

nkp174

Active Member
Those cars have an interesting pivoting mechanism that pivots the coupler as the trucks swings. At least mine does, but it has the old horn-hook couplers. Since you have some kind of kadee clone on yours, my bet is if you take the screw off the coupler box, you can remove the old coupler and drop a kadee #5 right in.

Kevin

Ditto. Those cars have Bachmann's ez-mate couplers. They are easy to mate...but their wimpy plastic springs don't like to keep the couplers coupled. Kaddee #5s are the way to go.
 

PWRR-2207

Rogue Islander
Kaydee MCS vs 37

I had recommended the #37 because the HO set - Bachmann McKinley Explorer should have come with a Bachmann EMD GP-40 engine and the Kaydee conversion list shows a #37 as the appropriate coupler. Here is a picture of the #37 installation document:

Kaydee_37.jpg

Does the current coupler look like the one in the picture or have you got yourself an engine that has been modified already?

(link in case picture too small - http://www.kadee.com/conv/pdf/b10.pdf)
 

PWRR-2207

Rogue Islander
Couplers...

If the rest of the cars look the same as the engine, I would order some #5 (called 'MCS' on the Kaydee list) as the height should match up as they are the 'most common' size replacement couplers. I have a couple cars that I used #5's on that called for something else on the list. I had to do a little height adjustment but they worked fine, including using a #5 on my Bachmann EMD F40 (list says #27).
 
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