Coupler FAQ?

[P-LineSoo]

Can we assemble a coupler FAQ on what's all out there, which works best for what, etc? I think it would be helpful....once we have the info I can compile it into a spreadsheet that maybe an admin can sticky.

[P-LineSoo]

?

I don't know about the rest of you, but I get darned confused regarding couplers. For the most part, I'll replace Rapidos with the cheap and easy Kato couplers. I can put them in existing coupler boxes and have even CA glued them into place on some models, which works as long as two cemented couplers never get stuck together.

I do have a couple of locos that just don't like the Kato couplers and I really don't want to have to jump through tons of hoops to find out what coupler I should use. Isn't there any way of making this easier?

Also, I have given up on trying to assemble MT couplers. It's not impossible, but I have better use of my time than to spend an hour or more trying to assemble one, while crawling around on the floor looking for the spring -- again -- and so on. Do they just make them pre-assembled? Isn't there a 'one size fits most' that will work? I don't care if it's 3 scale inches off of prototype, I don't count rivets. Maybe I'd care if I modeled in a larger scale, but I don't.

[Tdjr]

I feel your pain as I age....I originally assembled all my MT couplers for the loco’s. Yes MT has many pre-assembled for loco’s, but I haven’t looked to hard at the cars as I had just swapped the trucks with couplers for ones that had Rapidos.

[P-LineSoo]

I take it by the relative silence that either

- I'm in the minority here about confusion over couplers, OR

- Everyone is so confused, they don't even know where to start.

[jpwisc]

I don’t know where the confusion comes in myself. If I have a question, I head the the conversion library. MT has done a nice job of putting all that in for together for you.
Click Here

[The Ol' Curmudgeon]

I don’t know where the confusion comes in myself. If I have a question, I head the the conversion library. MT has done a nice job of putting all that in for together for you.
Click Here

Although that's for MTs only, and it's darn handy, it hardly covers the entire market.

Maybe one of these years we N scalers will get a coupler that's scale size with long or standard shanks, fits simply into existing draft boxes, with no slinky effect.

I mean really, how hard can it be?

[jpwisc]

Although that's for MTs only, and it's darn handy, it hardly covers the entire market.

Maybe one of these years we N scalers will get a coupler that's scale size with long or standard shanks, fits simply into existing draft boxes, with no slinky effect.

I mean really, how hard can it be?

I hear you. When you start getting into shank length, much of that is preference. If we get into preferences, the list can get messy in a hurry. Yes, the list does only cover MTs, but they are the prime coupler in our market. I’d like to see more MT ST compatible couplers, Bowser conversions, or Z Scale couplers taking hold, but I know it’s not going to happen overnight.

[RailKing50]

I had a kick where I was replacing both coal cars and passenger equipment with MTs. Looking back now, that was probably a waste of money as I don't use the magnetic uncoupling and they are unit trains. They do roll better, so not a complete waste, but I am going to update some of my other passenger cars with FVM dummy couplers. USPS says they are out for delivery.

[Tim R]

Going out on a limb here, but I've got my umbrella handy. (How many other metaphors can I mash together?) As far as I'm concerned, there are MT couplers, and there are poorly or non-functional things that look sort of like couplers. I'll be going through a lot of 1015s as I switch to body mounted couplers on all my rolling stock. The Micro-Trains web page is my coupler FAQ. The off-brand couplers that come with some locos and cars will be going away.

My layout will have lots of switching in yards and at industries, as well as through trains, many of which set off or pick up blocks. All cars need to be compatible with this.

The ancient standby, Rapido couplers, work fairly well, but look awful.

[railohio]

The hobby standard is still Micro-Trains. There are other options now that weren't available 25 years ago, but they aren't necessarily cheaper or easier. Everything I have (eventually) gets Micro-Trains couplers via either a truck swap on freight cars or a coupler swap on locomotives. There are two exceptions: Equipment that is solely for operation at train shows gets Unimate dummy couplers (now offered by Fox Valley) because it doesn't run with anything else and a commuter train has stock Kato knuckle couplers because nothing else will couple as closely without significant work.

[P-LineSoo]

Dumb question perhaps, but is there a place that a guy can buy MT trucks+couplers in bulk for a savings?

[NtheBasement]

Cheapest I have paid for the 10 pair short roller bearings is at train shows. Googling micro trains 1030-10 it looks like model train stuff has the lowest price at the moment. There are Barbers on eBay for $40, haven't seen 1030s that cheap in a long time.

[sid]

rapidos there easy and work just fine and i need more of them no friggin mt's that cost arm an a leg for me. i dont care what they look like as long as they work.

[Doug Gosha]

After 53 years, Micro Train couplers are still the knuckle coupler standard. Not a bad record.

Doug

[P-LineSoo]

Cheapest I have paid for the 10 pair short roller bearings is at train shows. Googling micro trains 1030-10 it looks like model train stuff has the lowest price at the moment. There are Barbers on eBay for $40, haven't seen 1030s that cheap in a long time.

Sounds like a worthy investment. Some of my cars need a major kick in the pants, performance wise.