Couplers: Rapido to Accumate

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pimberman

New Member
May 18, 2007
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Hi!
Newbie here.:wave:

I have a few old Bachmann N scale freight cars with Rapido couplers and I want to convert them to Accumate.
It is possible?
Where can I found Accumate N scale couplers?
I have visited the Accurail.com website and the only ones couplers are HO Standard Couplers.
It's necessary to change all the truck or only the coupler?:confused:

Thanks
:smile:
 
Accumate couplers in N scale are marketed by Atlas. To make the conversion you'll likely need to replace the trucks, too.
 
I agree with RailOhio, you'll probably need to change out the trucks. Many of the Bachmann cars have "screw in" trucks and the diameter of the hole in the floor of the car may not match the Accumate trucks. I would suggest getting only one set of trucks to try out, or maybe borrow one from a fellow N Scaler if possible.

If you have a lot of cars to convert, once you confirm that this can be done, you might check eBay for the occassional listing of groups of Accumate trucks that people sell off from time to time.

Also, Micro-Trains offers a conversion which allows you to fit their couplers directly into the Bachmann trucks, but the couplers need to be assembled. The old catalog number was 1133 and the new one is 001 33 031. Two pair is $5.95 MSRP.
 
I recently converted an Intermountain N scale boxcar equiped with Rapido couplers. I installed 2 complete Micro-Trains Bettendorf truck without any problem. Just remove the plastic pin that holds the truck to the boxcar frame, replace the truck , reinsert the pin and ... voila. I didn't even have to install the ( supplied ) shims
I used Micro-Trains complete trucks because ( it's my own experience ) they are available at my online hobby store in Ontario. I think Atlas accumate trucks are harder to find.
I don't have any problem at all mixing Atlas Accumate and Micro Trains knuckle couplers.

I'm at work now, so Idon't have the truck in front of me but if I remember well, the truck part# is 003 02 022
Go for it.
 
railohio said:
Accumate couplers in N scale are marketed by Atlas. To make the conversion you'll likely need to replace the trucks, too.
Click to expand...

Thanks for your reply railohio,
yes, is Atlas I will search in atlasrr.com perhaps I find them there.
:mrgreen:
 
umtrr-author said:
I agree with RailOhio, you'll probably need to change out the trucks. Many of the Bachmann cars have "screw in" trucks and the diameter of the hole in the floor of the car may not match the Accumate trucks. I would suggest getting only one set of trucks to try out, or maybe borrow one from a fellow N Scaler if possible.

If you have a lot of cars to convert, once you confirm that this can be done, you might check eBay for the occassional listing of groups of Accumate trucks that people sell off from time to time.

Also, Micro-Trains offers a conversion which allows you to fit their couplers directly into the Bachmann trucks, but the couplers need to be assembled. The old catalog number was 1133 and the new one is 001 33 031. Two pair is $5.95 MSRP.
Click to expand...

Hi umtrr-author
yes, it's possible that the hole in the car is not of the same size.
You're right, I will try with only one car.
I have eight old Bachmann's freight cars with rapido couplers.
But I think to change only one coupler to connect it to the
rest of the train.

:thumb:
 
Biased turkey said:
I recently converted an Intermountain N scale boxcar equiped with Rapido couplers. I installed 2 complete Micro-Trains Bettendorf truck without any problem. Just remove the plastic pin that holds the truck to the boxcar frame, replace the truck , reinsert the pin and ... voila. I didn't even have to install the ( supplied ) shims
I used Micro-Trains complete trucks because ( it's my own experience ) they are available at my online hobby store in Ontario. I think Atlas accumate trucks are harder to find.
I don't have any problem at all mixing Atlas Accumate and Micro Trains knuckle couplers.

I'm at work now, so Idon't have the truck in front of me but if I remember well, the truck part# is 003 02 022
Go for it.
Click to expand...

Micro Trains is also good choice and easy to find.
Then, there is no problem mixing Accumate with MT?
That's can be the solution! If Atlas is hard to find, and it is, I'll try MT.
Thanks.

:)
 
When I was in N scale, I too had some Bachmann cars that I converted, But I used the MT's. I had to replace the whole truck, but it comes with the coupler. I think the number was1033 for the modern 100 tn roller bearing trucks.
 
accumate only works for about 20-30 cars and thats it
MT couplers work for 50+ cars
also the MT 1015 i hear works for Bachmann couplers boxes
 
pimberman,
I'm sorry but I don't want to pass false information. I didn't pay attention to the fact that Bachmann trucks are screw-in trucks so what I mentioned in my post is not valid because I was talking about trucks mounted with a plastic pin.
So please disregard my post.
 
Even with the screw-in trucks you can normally just use any old truck and keep the screw. The worst thing you'll need to do is open up the hole a little, but probably not. The MT or Atlas trucks will be a lot nicer. Consider the MT couplers as they work so much better than Accumates. Anyone want a stack of Accumates I have a pile here in the scrap bin as I tend to buy Atlas cars because of their detail and bin the couplers immediately.
 
Biased turkey said:
pimberman,
I'm sorry but I don't want to pass false information. I didn't pay attention to the fact that Bachmann trucks are screw-in trucks so what I mentioned in my post is not valid because I was talking about trucks mounted with a plastic pin.
So please disregard my post.
Click to expand...

Don't worry, you're right!
All my Bachmann's freight cars has trucks mounted with plastic pin!
Only the caboose has the trucks mounted with screws.
Your post is perfectly valid.
Thanks for your reply.
:thumb:
 
eightyeightfan1 said:
When I was in N scale, I too had some Bachmann cars that I converted, But I used the MT's. I had to replace the whole truck, but it comes with the coupler. I think the number was1033 for the modern 100 tn roller bearing trucks.
Click to expand...

nscaler711 said:
accumate only works for about 20-30 cars and thats it
MT couplers work for 50+ cars
also the MT 1015 i hear works for Bachmann couplers boxes
Click to expand...

tillsbury said:
Even with the screw-in trucks you can normally just use any old truck and keep the screw. The worst thing you'll need to do is open up the hole a little, but probably not. The MT or Atlas trucks will be a lot nicer. Consider the MT couplers as they work so much better than Accumates. Anyone want a stack of Accumates I have a pile here in the scrap bin as I tend to buy Atlas cars because of their detail and bin the couplers immediately.
Click to expand...

OK I will try with MT, it seems the best option.
Thanks, I appreciate your advice.
:wave:
 
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