Changing Couplers on Intermountain RTR cars

[aegis2]

I have several Intermountain RTR cars (reefers and tanks) which have the plastic spring clone couplers. They are starting to hang in the open position. Is there any easy way to convert these to Kadee's. The cars seem to have a lot of glue and I can't break the seal on the coupler pockets. The details are fragile and I don't want to do a lot of damage. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance.

[Anonymous]

http://www.nmra.org/beginner/couplers.html

www.kadee.com/conv/list.htm

http://www.kadee.com/htmbord/page120.htm

http://www.kadee.com/htmbord/page160.htm

[Anonymous]

My suggestion is to keep buying RTR cars, so that eventually all that is available is RTR glued together cars with crappy couplers.

This is a nasty treatise on the state of the hobby and I appologize!

[Anonymous]

Aegis2, I have the same problem. I'm looking forward to a suggestion from someone as to how to retrofit these Intermountain couplers.

Chuck, thanks for the reference pages. What I'd like is some first-hand tips on how an expert has dealt with retrofitting the Intermountain cars.

Mark, I couldn't agree more... why do manufacturers build cars with glued and sealed coupler pockets and crappy couplers? Hello?

[Anonymous]

There doesn't seem to be an easy way to get those couplers off. Here's a tool that might help ya.

• Shot-loaded to eliminate rebound.


• Rubber head prevents sparking--won't mar your work.


• Excellent for coupler pocket removal, and forming soft metals.


• Steel reinforced handle with a flanged butt for a more secure grip.

In all seriousness, we all need to write and/or e-mail the manufactures and complain. Maybe if they get enough complaints we can get them to change there ways.