Group Good day to you. Has anyone completed a coupler conversion on Bachmann HHP to knuckle couplers? I thought the conversion would be a simple step but it is not. Any help, photos, videos, and web sites will be a great help. We won't get into talk about how they run (like CRAP), so I think that is a thread for another day. Thanks for any help/leads on this coupler conversion. Peace be with you. Arthur
I simply used one of the three dummy knuckle coupler designs that come in Bachmann's dummy knuckle coupler assortment. The one with the hole in the end of the shaft is a drop-in. With modern passenger trains, I don't find automatic coupling and uncoupling necessary. My two HHP8 locos run well enough, although without traction tires it's a struggle to pull many Amfleet cars. The inboard bearing design of the prototype translates into full-diameter axle bearings instead of end needle-point bearings, and they really add drag. I removed the metal light power pickups from my Bachmann Amfleet coaches (don't care about interior car lighting, since it can't be seen on the prototype in daylight), and that reduced the drag a bit. The Kato Amfleet coaches don't roll much better than the Bachmanns. I can reliably pull a (Bachmann) seven-car Regional train with one HHP8 on level track. You can also double-head the locos. Rich K.
Sorry about a late post. If I can find mine, I'll snap a picture. I did the conversion with 1015 couplers and they worked well. Also, not sure what you've bumped into but mine has run well. Enough to annoy most of the guys I know.
Thanks to both Rich and Art. I've looked for days trying to find what coupler to use! This unit will just be for display, so Rapidos really look sucky:frustrated:.
There use to be a good discussion on this on the Atlas forum but the pictures are missing now: http://forum.atlasrr.com/forum/topic.asp?ARCHIVE=true&TOPIC_ID=24023& However, at the bottom of thread, there is a website for the guy who wrote it that is still active. I would try to get in touch with him: http://www.steve4painting.com Good luck! Chris
I too am not happy with the N scale HHP-8. I hate physically changing any mechanics of a production run. But in this case I run K-dee type knuckles. I used Micro trians part number 001 02 052 You have to use an exacto knife and trim out the frame. Slices very easly use little pressure. leave the pin in place. Its a tight fit and you cannot convert back. I have contacted bachman to buy the bottom half of the assemby so I can can convert it back to the original configuration while I look for a longer knuckle arm to convert the baggage car and use it as an adapter. Complaints with the nscale HHP-8, throttle control is horrible. After the conversion the knuckle woul ddrop about .75mm and rub derailers.
N-Scale Mag has had an article from me about this loco for a long time. Hopefully they will publish it one day. A Kato 923500 is a drop in fit. MicroTrains: MT #1015 coupler box and inserted MT #2004 coupler internals. I then had to open up the coupler pocket so it would accept the 1015 coupler box. Also, swapping out the crapola loud stock motor with the little motor from an Atlas MP-15 will transform a C loco into an A+.
Here's a photo, taken with the shell off. The 1015 sits right in the space. I don't remember if I had to clear away any material, but it should give you an idea.
Wiring in a Digitrax decoder made mine both run a heck of alot better. Quiet and smooth. Got rid of the loud humming B-mann decoder.
