I am planning on converting the couplers on my Bachmann 2-8-0 to knuckle couplers, which includes replacing the fake front pilot coupler with a working one. Has anyone else done this and do you have any suggestions or experience? I am not really band-loyal to any particular coupler manufacturer (kato, micro-mark, etc) so long as they work.
BLW recommends MTL #2004-1 for the tender and for the pilot use 2004 pocket with 1015 coupler. I have not made this conversion but Micro-Trains couplers are the preferred brand. Hope this helps. Harold
I had to do this on an 0-6-0 I bought on ebay. I snipped off the fake coupler and ground a pocket with a dremel. Once the new box fit in, I drilled and tapped for a #2 screw and attached the coupler assembly. It worked great.
Body mount one of the MTL n-scale options such as already suggested. I have 3, but have not done the pilot coupler. Consider one of the MTL z-scale referred to as 905.
I've done one, used the Z 905 in the front. You will have to enlarge the hole in the cow catcher slightly. I don't remember what I used in the back but I think it was an 1128. Have fun, Mark
From my own research I was intending to use a Micro Trains 2004-1 on the tender and a 1015 on the pilot. Doing some enlarging/drilling doesn't bother me. I had considered using a Z scale coupler on the pilot, but I've been reading that some people have had issues with them. I plan to do switching with this locomotive so I need something that will function reliably vs just looks pretty.
I see that Microtrains offers a 2004 and 2004-1. Is the only difference that the 2004-1 is pre-assembled? Thank you.
Use a MT Z scale #905 coupler on the front pilot of the 2-8-0 and body mount a MT Z scale #905 coupler on the underfr ame of the tender. This technique is easy to do. I use this technique on most of my steam locomotives. Shades
The MTL recommendation is (2004-1) or item # 001 02 052; I used that method for the tender of two of the early Bachmann 2-8-0s that came with Rapido style couplers. I have NOT attempted to convert the dummy pilot coupler to an operating one. I read that a Z-gauge MTL coupler has been used. It appears some of the existing pilot would need to be cut away to accommodate Z-gauge MTL coupler. I have not elected to do it because I like to operate the locomotives single. I have hired sound/dcc installed in two of these; they are 2 of my favorite locomotives.
Do you notice any problem with the 905 coupler on the tender in terms of number of cars the locomotive will pull? I have done similar replacement on diesel switch locomotives which I use only for moving short strings, i.e. 3 or 4 cars.
Roger: I have no problems with MT Z scale #905 coupler body mounted on the underside of the tender or body mounted on a diesel. There is one important pre-requisite that one must follow. The MT Z scale #905 coupler works very well on the rear of tenders and on all diesels. In most cases the #905 coupler requires shimming to mate well with an N scale coupler. To get the most accurate height for a Z scale coupler, the knuckle of the Z scale # 905 coupler must be centered in the middle of the knuckle of any N scale coupler. When proper centering of the Z scale coupler is accomplished, the # 905 coupler mates very well with traditional N scale knuckle couplers. The MT Z scale coupler holds up extremely well when coupled in a long string of cars. Despite its small size the MT Z scale coupler is a "workhorse" in the coupler world. I also use the MT Z scale #905 coupler on all the pilots of my large steam locomotive fleet. Have fun with it Shades
I am bumping this thread because I am getting ready to (hopefully) put z-scale 903/5 couplers on the pilots of some Bachmann 2-8-0s. They will replace the dummy knucle couplers that are actually to scale. I would appreciate guidance from any member who has already done this successfully. First, do I have to gouge-out the existing scale opening to the coupler pocket to get enough swing to avoid derailing on 13.75" radius curves? Second, did you use the stock MT coupler pocket or make one to fit? And, did you need to assemble the coupler into the pocket by pushing the shank in through the pilot opening, or what? Steve
Use a MT #905 coupler which is already made up. You have to carefully open up the dummy coupler pocket in the front pilot to install the MT #905 coupler. You insert the #905 coupler facing the front of the locomotive. Be very careful enlarging the dummy coupler pocket to fit the #905 coupler. This project can be easily accomplished with care. Have fun with it..... Shades
Been a long while but I also used the MT 905 on the first release of the loco. I believe I also had to file just a bit to get it in and had to take a little off the back of the coupler box for clearance. The rear of the tender I used a MT 1015.
John: You can also use a MT #905 coupler body mounted on the rear of the tender. Have fun with it..... Shades
Anyone able to point me to some photos of this MT Z scale #905 coupler on the front of the Bachmann Spectrum 2-8-0? Just like Maletrain, I'm looking to do this, and would like some tips to make sure I can complete the project safely (i.e. avoid ruining the front pilot). Thx.
John: This article is from PSG1790's blog. He shows how to install a MT #905 coupler on a Spectrum 2-8-0 and other steam locomotives. Have fun with it....... Shades Installing A Micro Trains Z Scale #905 Coupler On The Front Pilot Of A Spectrum 2-8-0 And The Rear Of The Tender Frame Installing a Micro Trains Z scale #905 coupler on the front pilot of a Bachmann Spectrum 2-8-0 isn't difficult at all if you follow the following directions. First the MT Z scale #905 coupler is more prototypically correct than a traditional N scale coupler. Previously used was a MT #1015 coupler box with a MT #2004 coupler which when completely installed on the front pilot was quite over-sized in relation to the rest of the locomotive. The front pilot of the Spectrum 2-8-0 requires surgery to properly install a MT Z scale #905 . First you remove the dummy coupler which slides out after releasing it from the back of the pilot. Then take a very thin diamond cutting instrument and gradually widen the opening in the front pilot where the dummy pilot was placed. You want to make the opening in the front pilot to look like a thin rectangle. Use the MT Z scale coupler box as a guide. You will be cutting away some of the detailing on the pilot as you shape the space for the coupler box. You want to taper the opening so you can slip in the MT #905 coupler from the front of the pilot. You must taper the new coupler box opening so it is slightly wider in the front pilot area so the preformed #905 coupler easily slips into the opening. Then check the coupler height with a gauge or with another car and if correct glue glue the MT Z scale #905 coupler in place. in place. I done this installation on most of my older Spectrum Consolidations. This technique can also be used for the Spectrum Light Mountain 4-8-2 and the Spectrum 2-6-6-2 Articulated Mallet as well as the Bachmann 4-6-0 ten wheeler. The front pilot with the MT Z scale #905 coupler in place is a great improvement over the factory installed dummy coupler on the front pilot ( See Photo # 1 & Photo # 2 ). You can also body mount the MT Z scale #905 coupler on the rear of the tender frame. The MT Z scale coupler mates well with N scale couplers provided you mount it properly. The knuckle of the MT Z scale coupler must be positioned so it rests in the center of the N scale coupler knuckle. The MT Z scale coupler if properly mounted on the rear of the tender will maintain the pulling performances of the Spectrum 2-8-0, 4-8-2 Light & Heavy Mountains and the 2-6-6-2 Articulated Mallet. Photo # 1 Bachmann 4-6-0 Ten Wheeler On Left; Three Spectrum 2-8-0's Follow And A Spectrum Southern Light Mountain On The Right. Photo # 2 Old "Platinum" Photo Of A Bachmann 4-6-0 Ten Wheeler On Left; Three Spectrum 2-8-0's Follow And A Spectrum Southern Light Mountain On The Right. Photo # 3 Old "Platinum" Photo Showing The MT Z Scale Coupler Mounted On The Rear Of The Tender Frame. Three Spectrum 2-8-0's Are On The Left, Two Bachmann 4-6-0 Ten Wheelers Follow And A Spectrum Light Mountain On The Far Right. The New Spectrum 2-8-0 Is The Third Locomotive From The Left. Photo # 4 Old Color Photo Of A Original Run Spectrum WM 2-8-0 Released In 2002. A Mt Z scale # 905 Coupler Is On The Front Pilot The Locomotive Was Detailed With A Feed Water Heater And Extra Piping. The Original Coal Load Was Replaced With A Custom Coal Load And There Is A Lenz 0521W Decoder Hardwired In The Locomotive Boiler. Photo # 5 Closeup Of The Front Pilot Of The WM Spectrum 2-8-0 Showing A MT Z Scale # 905 Coupler Installed In The Front Pilot. This MT Z Scale # 905 Coupler Was Installed In 2004. The same procedure should be followed on the new release of the Bachmann Spectrum 2-8-0 with DCC installed at the factory. To install a MT Z scale coupler on the rear of the tender frame, you must first remove the very large factory installed coupler. This coupler just screws out. You must remember that the frame of the tender is metal. Once the coupler is removed, you must cut off the metal screw post with some metal pliers nippers. Then file the base of the coupler pocket with fine files to smooth the metal coupler pocket base. Once this is done you can set the MT Z scale # 905 coupler in the coupler pocket. You won't need a shim for the # 905 coupler on this locomotive. Since you can't tap a very small screw into the coupler pocket, cement the # 905 coupler in place with some CA cement. Just use a very small dab of cement as you don't want to have the coupler freeze up when the cement sets up completely. After 30 minutes make sure the coupler swings freely from side to side. Let this set up for 24 hours. When the coupler is completely set in the coupler pocket, you can build up the coupler pocket with some small pieces of Styrene strips to cover the coupler frame where you would normally use a screw to tighten the coupler. When the Styrene coupler pocket is completely built up and set, you can paint the Styrene with Polly Scale grimy Black. You should try this modification. You'll certainly be pleased with the results.
Like everyone else said: use an MT905. You need to enlarge the hole in the pilot a little to fit the coupler in. Here's a photo of one of my Consolidations with a 905 in the front and a 1015 on the rear; you can easily see how much smaller (and more in-scale) the 905 is: I only wish I had followed Shades' approach and used a 905 on the tender, too. Really wish MT would just make a 905-sized coupler that was designed to mount at the correct height for any underframe designed for a 1015. Virtually everything today will take a 1015 as a "drop in" alternative (not really a "drop in" - but the underframe height is correct for simply screwing a 1015 on and going about your merry way). It can't be all that hard for MT to make a coupler box that has a thick top to correctly position the 905 at mid-knuckle height relative to a regular N-scale MT coupler. And sell them in bulk packs of 100, so I can convert everything! John C.
From looking at the pictures in the previous posts, I am getting the impression that the 905 coupler boxes are not pushed completely into the pilots, but rather stick-out substantially. Some macro pictures from the top and side would be helpful in seeing how the box is actually positioned. Am I correct to infer that the 905 box needs to stick out some so that the trip pins of mating couplers do not catch on the "cow catcher" part of the pilot when connected to the 905s?
