Wow, how do I fix this mess?

briansommers787 Nov 1, 2011

  1. briansommers787

    briansommers787 TrainBoard Member

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    my couplers don't match, just a tad...

    athearn car with 148 kadees and spring trucks/wheel set and a Bachman 44 toner with 148 kadees as well..

    What other locomotive can I get that would be higher to match athearn?

    IMAG0021.jpg
     
  2. Mike VE2TRV

    Mike VE2TRV TrainBoard Member

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    Looks to me that the coupler on the boxcar is way too high. The height on the loco seems just about right. I suggest you lower the couplers on the boxcar (went from truck mount to body mount, by any chance?).
     
  3. briansommers787

    briansommers787 TrainBoard Member

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    Athearns are all body mount.. that is the way it is out of the box, once I put it together.. very odd indeed..
     
  4. Artieiii

    Artieiii TrainBoard Member

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    Your couplers should be at the standard NMRA height give or take a little (that's what the NMRA gauge is for). That is way out of spec on the box car side. The one on the 44 tonner looks about right. If it's a new car I would bring it back to the store.
    -Art
     
  5. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    You might want to get a Kadee coupler height standard gauge. I believe part number is #205.

    I agree, that box car is way off. Look at how high the trip pin is, when it should be down just above rail head height.
     
  6. cf7

    cf7 TrainBoard Member

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    I agree that the boxcar's coupler looks high, but I also think the 44 tonner's coupler is a bit low...look at the modified trip pin. Do what Boxcab says, get a Kadee coupler height gauge!
     
  7. Geep_fan

    Geep_fan TrainBoard Member

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    I just took a look at that truck, the car is mounted WAYYYYY too high in the air on the trucks. part of the top truck should appear to be tucked under the car, not below it.
     
  8. JNXT 7707

    JNXT 7707 TrainBoard Member

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    Yes a coupler height gauge is a must. As far as your boxcar, you'll need some shims to mount your coupler box onto to lower the coupler height, and probably a Kadee "overset shank" coupler (where the knuckle is mounted lower on the shank.
    Go to the Kadee website and read all about it - everything you wanted to know about coupler conversions :thumbs_up:
     
  9. Brett_Henderson

    Brett_Henderson TrainBoard Member

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    Maybe the car's under-frame is "upside down" ? ... and the trucks are riding on what should be up, inside the body..

    (under-frame is blue).. That's all I can come up with, for a mis-match like that..
     

    Attached Files:

  10. Mike VE2TRV

    Mike VE2TRV TrainBoard Member

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    Brett's suggestion is interesting. Maybe some photos of the underside and an end view, to see how everything fits together.
     
  11. NYW&B

    NYW&B Guest

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    I would agree with Brett that something has gone terribly wrong in the assembling of the Athearn box car. Either the under-frame was installed inverted, or the coupler is not even attached within the coupler box itself. Perhaps it is attop the coupler box, or at least outside of it? No car, kit or RTR, has ever been offered with such a horrible mis-match in coupler height.

    NYW&B
     
  12. YoHo

    YoHo TrainBoard Supporter

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    I can't think of a single Athearn Blue box car kit that could be mounted wrong in that manner. On athearns, there should be a mounting point coming down that the truck slips around. This in theory allows the trucks to move freely with the screw tightened down.

    My guess based on the picture is that the trucks are not properly seated. Either some flashing needs to be cleared so they settle down all the way or maybe they aren't athearn trucks and so aren't mounted correctly?
     
  13. shortliner

    shortliner TrainBoard Member

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    My guess is that the base of the car isn't recessed into the base properly
     
  14. briansommers787

    briansommers787 TrainBoard Member

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    yeah, one corner wasn't I corrected that and it's a bit better but not much.. here is the really wonky thing is that one sides is perfect, ok a little high but very doable and the other is really high.. I'm thinking something is twisted.. I'm about read to but this on the scrap heap.. who makes the best rolling stock for HO scale anyway?
     
  15. CarlH

    CarlH TrainBoard Member

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    Can you show us a picture of the one side that is perfect, perhaps showing its coupler sitting near the 44 tonner's coupler, for comparison purposes?
     
  16. JNXT 7707

    JNXT 7707 TrainBoard Member

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    Even the cheapest rolling stock available today has couplers at the correct height (when assembled properly anyway). I would follow the above suggestions and see if something isn't backwards or upside down in the assembly.
     
  17. YoHo

    YoHo TrainBoard Supporter

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    I'd like to see a picture without the boxcar part. Just the frame trucks and undercarriage part.
     
  18. briansommers787

    briansommers787 TrainBoard Member

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    ok here is a few more:
    IMAG0023.jpg IMAG0024.jpg IMAG0026.jpg IMAG0027.jpg IMAG0022.jpg
     
  19. Geep_fan

    Geep_fan TrainBoard Member

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    that truck isn't anywhere close to being seated all the way. whats keeping it from being all the way down?
     
  20. briansommers787

    briansommers787 TrainBoard Member

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    I'll try tightening the screw a bit more, any more and it will just cause the truck to bind up and won't swivel... let me fiddle with it a bit.
     

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