Coupler standards

[Gary Crawley]

Hi
Up to now my rolling stock has been all Bachmann, the other day I recieved 2 AM (accucraft) flat cars.
[:0]They both have knuckle couplers, (Bachmann and AM) and are compatible ie, they lock with each other EXCEPT they are at 1/2" different heights to each other.
So I will have to modify one or the other to connect[:(][:(]
What is worse I believe other manufactures don't even use knuckle couplers. (future problem)[:(][:(]

SO my question is WHY CAN"T WE HAVE A STANDARD FOR COUPLERS[?]

Mabe manufactures don't like their bits being compatable with others.
So why doesn't our stuff conform to NMRA standards, it appears we are being left out.
"World's Largest Organization Devoted to Model Railroaders", what about us Garden Railroaders , "G" scale

Regards
Gary

[Anonymous]

Dont worry Gary
At least NMRA the track and wheel standards have been set and will hopefully start to be noted if it does or dosn't conform to tthe standard in reviews.
Standard for couplers is the hook and loop which most manufactures now suply with there rolling stock.
I just wi***hey where all the same hight and had the same length uncoupler tail on them geting fed up cuting non LGB ones shorter to clear the in track boxes.[:(]
Anyway the knuckle couplers should be roughly the same hight as the dummy LGB buffer type couplings that are fitted to LGB stock so there goes the standard out the window [:p][B)]
Untill reviews start saying does not conform to the standard manufacturers won't change and when they do it will be as and when new dies have to be made.
regards John

[Anonymous]

Hi Gary,
This one is an old complaint and I think you'll find everyone agreeing with you. At one stage I put everything I had back onto hook and loop but it looked bloody awful, so I changed it back after a few weeks. In the GR mag, late last year I think, it gave knuckle compatability and highlighted the problem. It's something that manfs, irrespective of what they make, love doing. Why do cars have the fuel filler on different sides?
I think the only way around this is body mounting KD's, but that's a whole new ballgame!
Cheers,
Kim
[tup]

[powlee]

I also studied that article in GR and came to the conclusion that it would cost a lot of time and MONEY! So I did a bit of trial and error. My main aim is that they don`t detach around the garden. I found that my USA couplers locked with Bachmann and Aristo as long as I locked them first and then lowered the couplings onto each other. Very time consuming but I am more interested in the running than shunting. I managed to buy a bundle of USA couplings on the net as LGB do not supply a choice of couplers with their product. The price of a LGB coupling is quite astounding and the do look somewhat bulky and incompatible.
All the best Ian P

[vsmith]

I'm in the slow process of converting all my stuff to Link and Pin, I'll keep using my oversize bachmann couplers but eventually its L&P for me.

[cacole]

G scale is not alone in the coupler height and standards problem, but seems to be much worse than HO and N scale. The only solution I have found is to go to the additional expense (and hassle) of putting Kadee body-mounted couplers on everything. I have encounted height differences of nearly 1/2" between different brands of rolling stock, which then requires a lot of shimming or cutting away of the car bodies to mount the couplers at Kadee's recommended height. I wi***he manufacturers would at least come to an agreement of how high their rolling stock is going to sit above the rail.

[Anonymous]

Hi Charles,
What minimum radius curve do you need to operate body mount KD's. I have only used them in 'N' and they were truck mounted. Does the body mount have a compensating spring in to give them extra length and bend on tight curves?
Cheers
Kim
[tup]

[Marty Cozad]

Gary,,Gary,,Gary,, that enables you to enjoy the thrill of customizing your own RR!!!!! I hated it at first. but now I'm so glad for Kadee body mounts. I think the only way to go. I do sell my other unused couplers to help off set the Kadee cost.

[cacole]

Kim,

I have ran my Bachmann 1:20.3 narrow gauge Consolidation and rolling stock on AristoCraft 6.5 foot diameter curves with no problems, because the Kadee couplers have a large coil spring in them that allows the couplers to move approximately 1/4 inch each side of center. I think the Kadee #1 scale rust-colored couplers are actually closer to having the right size knuckle than the G scale ones, and they can be freely intermixed.

[Anonymous]

TOC would tell you about NMRA ......enought said.

[Anonymous]

To H*ll with NMRA [}:)] They just try to get you to buy who's ever couplers from that company that greased their hand $$$(kick backs) [xx(] Marty is right, doing couplers is one way to have a bit of fun and a challange at times to convert to YOUR favorite coupler [:)] I do Kadees, like most folks do. Mine are mostly truck mounted, but am slowly converting over to body mounts where possible [;)] It does take awhile to complete 300 cars [:O][:p] But experiment with the different brands, find out which works best for you and convert over to that brand [;)][:)][^]

[Anonymous]

Ok, I should have said Rocky to....[:I]

[Anonymous]

Ah, I just tell y'all what I hear. I ain't no expert, but I do like modifying my trains [;)][:)]