Has any body ever replaced the oversized, and sometimes don't work, Bachmann's sorry excuse for a coupler. Nothing I have will work without some mods done to the shell. It is possible to fit a Z scale coupler there if one cuts off the mounting peg and drills a hole and the same for a MT 1015 except some minor shaving work needs to be done to the opening.
I ended up putting McHenry couplers on my 70-tonner. They don't require any modification to the coupler or shell, and they're less oversized and much more reliable than the Bachmann couplers. A 1015 would've fit if I'd shaved off the molded-in coupler box, but a 905 Z-scale coupler box was just a bit too long to fit comfortably in the small space.
Replaced my Bachmann 44 tonner with Atlas Accumate couplers. They fit just fine with no mods to the loco needed.
Was a little hesitant toward McHenry because of size but looking at some photos not to bad and I think smaller than Bmann's product. And both the Accumate and the McHenry fit the Bmann coupler box which does save a lot of work for these old eyes and hands. May go with the McHenrys simply because of better availability.
McHenrys are definitely larger than MTs, but still much less bulky and clunky looking than the Bachmanns. I opted for McHenrys over Accumates because my main experience with Accumates is the trip pins falling off at inconvenient times and places.
Yes, using a Micro-Trains Z scale coupler is indeed possible (that's what I did), and looks great on that small switcher. M-T Z scale couplers work fine with the usual N scale ones. Steve Troy
I am having issues with the Bmann couplers and have tried every trick known to modelers to rectify the issues. Daggone things will hang up and not center, will not stay coupled to themselves or anything else. May ultimately cut them completely off and go with either a MT 1015 or a Z scale coupler. Another coupler that will work is a unimate body mount. I have in my parts box both the MTs. Z scale couplers, and unimates and rather than go with another coupler that uses the same mounting system, and potentially has the same issues crop up I am considering these to use. Plus it is money I don't have to spend with no assurances they will work better.
I opted for using Micro Trains passenger car couplers. (As suggested by either Mr. Straw or Mr. Stahl) - can't remember which. I did this for all of my 44 and 70 tonners. The end result: (Cut off the mounting pad and glue the pocket to the locomotive) - remove the screw post from the locomotive body Thanks, Wolf
Well took the plunge and removed the old couplers on one of the 44 tonners. Then I cut off the mounting post and the side parts of the coupler box that was molded in. Where the post sat that took the retaining screw I drilled a hole to take a mounting screw. I tried the Z scale coupler first but the coupler box was too long to allow good truck movement. Tried next was a unimate body mount. One flaw leaving the screw loose for side to side movement is that it would not center itself. Next try involved using my old standby coupler the MT 1015 Fit like a charm and the short coupler box allowed good truck clearance. Better yet was that the coupler box filled the gap in the pilot completely. I now have a self centering coupler that swings side to side. A check with an NMRA coupler gauge showed it to be the right height as installed no further work needed except to trim the excess height of the mounting screw where it came through. 100_0001-1 by John Moore posted Dec 14, 2022 at 6:45 PM On the far right the 1015, in the middle the unimate, and on the left the Bachmann disaster of a coupler. Best part of this was no ordering, spending money, or waiting weeks for a delivery. I have a stock of MT 1015s. Work was minimal just remove the old coupler and then cut off the center post and trim the sides off of the cast coupler box. Next drill a hole in the exact center of where the mounting pin was. The MT is compatible with my mix of Kato couplers, and some unimates.
Neat solution! Are these couplers available as a separate part? Or must the entire truck-coupler assembly be bought? Part #?
I finished installing the MTs on the Bmann 44 tonners this morning and had them running laps around the layout for about 2 hours without any issues. I did trim the coupler pins on the MT 1015 couplers a bit. A few photos to show the 1015 mounting. After trimming away the cast sides of the cast on coupler box and center mounting pin for the Bmann couplers I drilled out where the mounting pin was to take a MT mounting screw. 100_0002-1 by John Moore posted Dec 15, 2022 at 2:40 PM The drilled hole needs to be exactly where the mounting pin used to be for the trucks to clear and swivel. The MT 1015 in the proper position. 100_0003-2 by John Moore posted Dec 15, 2022 at 2:40 PM My 44 tonner lash up hauling some heavy ore cars with loads and for once no unwanted uncoupling. 100_0004-3 by John Moore posted Dec 15, 2022 at 2:40 PM And during a backup move one ore car picked a rail crossing the turnout resulting in a classic derailment. The Turtle Creek M of W crew fired up the 200 ton big crane and soon had the road clear and the cars back on the rails while a track gang repaired the rails in the turnout. 100_0005-4 by John Moore posted Dec 15, 2022 at 2:40 PM
On the bright side, none of the cars' loads spilled! And those are some clean couplers installations! I wish MT offered more Z scale coupler options. Something with a 905-sized knuckle but a compact 1015-style box would be absolutely perfect for these locos.
