Coupler conversion for Spectrum Dash 8-40CW

[Train Nutz]

Just out of curiosity, I wanted to looking into the new Spectrum Dash 8-40CW and figure out if there was a way to do a better coupler conversion than has been covered here on the Bachmann forum. I and many others here have got the new revised Dash 8's and found that the recommended MicroTrains coupler (#2004) will not work unless you make some kind of modification as the coupler is to short if mounted in the screw hole provided by Bachmann. I grab one of my older (first released) units that had the open pilots that needed the MT pilot conversion to fill the opening and mount their coupler box into and wanted to see why that ones coupler  stuck out far enough and on the newer models didn't. The coupler box I noticed was much longated than either the #1015 or #2004. Also, the coupler shaft was much longer too. I went and measured the center of the mount hole to the tip of the knuckle then went to measure the distance from the mount hole to just pass the plow on the newer Spectrum model. To my amazement, it look as if the coupler used on the older run of Spectrums would work on the newer models. So I removed the coupler from the older unit and mounted it into the exsisting mount hole on the new Spectrum Dash 8-40CW. I had to slightly bend the trip pin forward because  of the  plow but the coupler sticks out far enough to be used. On the back of the loco this wouldn't be a clearance problem at all.  The coupler conversion that was used on the older Dash 8-40CW was #1168 (new MT# 489-133060) for anyone interested in trying this method.  Why their is so much of a mounting difference between the old model and new one and why MT suggest using a #2004 has me scratching my head. I think maybe that when Bachmann was retooling this loco they might of notice the original MT pilot conversion used on the first run and designed the shell to fit that.  Why MT failed not to have a coupler to fit (which they gernerally do) and suggest one that doesn't, your guess is as good as mine. Someone drop the ball here but at lease this is something still workable. If you don't want to screw around with heavy modifications and want something quick and a direct fit, try the method I described above. Now since I figured this out for myself, I'm ordering another #1168 set (new MT# 489-133060) so I can put couplers at the ends of each loco as I only have one of each on them.
                                            Train Nutzzzzzzzzzzzzz