Thanks JBB
I have one here with me now.It's actually an IHC smooth side car, not the heavyweight, I thought it was, but it's a smoothside instead.It has the cheap two axle trucks on it, I would like to put a good set of 3 axle trucks on each car also, then detail the interior kit while I have the cars apart.I may or may not add interior light kits also.
Okay I just took one axle out, and simply pulled the horn hook coupler set out, it is all plastic and just snaps out easily.I really don't favor a Dr FRankenstein appraoch either.I do have some JB Weld, but lining everything up could be more of a hassle than it's worth. I'll go with a conversion kit.
I'll google up Kadee and Mchenry and look at the conversions.Thanks again! Wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas!
TheK4Kid
Kid, turn your car over. The job is a little simpler if you gently spread the sides of the truck and pop the wheels out. These cars used one of two styles of hornhook coupler. The really old ones use a steel circular spring. To remove the coupler take out the spring with a screw driver (you won't be using it again, so dont worry about damaging or losing it). After the spring is removed lift the back of the coupler up and forward over the square plastic post and pull out. The newer style coupler has an integral plastic spring and just snaps around the plastic post. Gently pull it forward and it will pop out.
The McHenrys have the same system as the newer horn hook coupler. Just slide them in until they snap around the post. Presto, You're done.
The Kadee conversion system will give you a piece that slides into the truck that holds the KD coupler. You have to cut out the plastic post and do a little filing to get it to fit. You then drill a hole and secure the piece with the self tapping screw supplied with the kit. A little harder, but really not too difficult or time consuming.
It is possible to do a Dr Frankenstein and cut off the head of the horn hook coupler and graft a knuckle end from a KD onto it. I've done it a couple of times when I had to, but I don't reccomend it. Its hard to get everything lined up correctly and glued together with enough strength to work properly.
You'll be a lot happier with the conversion couplers made for the job
JBB
Hi fellas,
My IHC haevyweights (HO) have a long stem with the old style horn hook couplers on the end, and its's all one piece.Maybe I should take a picture and post it.The only way I see doing the couplers loathar posted is to cut the stem, and glue these on somehow.
McHenry makes a number of couplers for the AHM/Rivrossi/IHC cars. The originals simply pull out and the McHenry's snap in. Takes less time to do than describe it. Look for the newer kind with a knuckle springs, the early wisker spring knuckles hold up poorly. Most of the heavyweights take McHenry #53.
As noted above Kadee makes a conversion kit for the AHM cars. It takes a little more work, but also works very well. They're a real life saver where someone has broken off (improved?) the nub in the truck the original coupler attaches to. The KD instructions say to use 36" replacement wheels to get the height to come out right. If you use 36" wheels you may have to pare a bit off the brake shoes to get clearance. My heavyweights are running with 32" wheels cause it's what I had on hand, and they seem to work fine, though 36" is more correct.
BTW, although they don't advertise it, the McHenry #53s work great on the various AHM, etc old time cars.
Hope this helps
yep lothar
very big oops
goin to glue it in and hope it work only a dummy unit so could alwats scrap it if it dont work
Sleeper-oops!
K4Kid-These are what you need.http://www.kadee.com/htmbord/page114.htm
i used JB #110/ 111 coupler pads and KD 30 series on my HO. ONCE you have the right tools, couplers, and screws, everything goes smoothly.
If you are 'N' gauge you will have to contact Kadee's spin-off Micro trains Div. for their recomendations. I cannot offer any worthwhile comments, being all HO.
Kadee makes a conversion kit just for IHC and Rivarossi truck mouted couplers.
Speaking of changing couplers, I have some IHC heavyweight passenger cars with horn hook couplers attached by a long plastic arm to the trucks.Any recommendations on how to convert them over to Kadees?I figured I'd have to body mount the Kadees
Sorry Lothar
I forgot to tell that im working in 'N' and use micro trains knuckles
Gav
i am trying to convert an old bachman b 30 from tension lock coupings to knuckle couplers.
I get the knuckle into the pocket but when I couple up half always springs out?
any advice welcome
gav.