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Changing Rapido couplers to knuckle (N scale)

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  • Member since
    May 2006
  • From: SF bay area
  • 682 posts
Changing Rapido couplers to knuckle (N scale)
Posted by Nataraj on Wednesday, February 7, 2007 7:20 PM
I just bought 5 con-cor bi-level metra cars. They came with rapido couplers, but all my other engines and cars have knuckle couplers.

Is there a easy way to convert these to knuckle??

Thanks for the help!!

Nataraj -- Southern Pacific RULES!!! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The GS-4 was the most beautiful steam engine that ever touched the rails.
  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Seattle WA
  • 1,233 posts
Posted by Hoople on Wednesday, February 7, 2007 7:23 PM
I just pull the coupler out and stick a kadee in. Sometimes it's harder because the couplers not the right height.
Mark.
  • Member since
    May 2006
  • From: SF bay area
  • 682 posts
Posted by Nataraj on Wednesday, February 7, 2007 7:32 PM
I am talking about N scale.
Nataraj -- Southern Pacific RULES!!! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The GS-4 was the most beautiful steam engine that ever touched the rails.
  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: SINGAPORE
  • 246 posts
Posted by ATSFCLIFF on Wednesday, February 7, 2007 9:09 PM

Have you tried using a MT truck with long shank? I used MT-1038 (003 02 044) for my Atlas articulated autoracks (their accumates are lousy) and they work fine. Alternatively you could use MT body mounted couplers which will entail some work.

Cheers, 

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Westchester NY
  • 1,747 posts
Posted by retsignalmtr on Wednesday, February 7, 2007 9:50 PM
body mounting mt's on long cars may not work too well on curves or crossovers. the best thing to do is get mt's that will fit in the same coupler pocket as the rapidos or replace the trucks and couplers entirely. but it probably be cheapest to just do the couplers.
  • Member since
    April 2005
  • From: Central New York
  • 279 posts
Posted by CraigN on Wednesday, February 7, 2007 11:44 PM

If you go to the microtrains website, you can access their conversions chart.

www.micro-trains.com

I didn't see the bi-level cars listed, but for most other passenger cars they list the #1130 as the rapido replacement.

That's the old number, the new number is #001 30 014

Hopefully that will work for you.

Craig 

  • Member since
    May 2006
  • From: SF bay area
  • 682 posts
Posted by Nataraj on Thursday, February 8, 2007 12:03 AM
Thanks. I will check that out.
Nataraj -- Southern Pacific RULES!!! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The GS-4 was the most beautiful steam engine that ever touched the rails.

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