Coupler replacement problem

[jettrainfan]

im replacing my old freight car couplers from horn hook to knuckle. I bought 5 pairs (i counted 5 cars that need a replacing) and 3 are the 1980's. The other 2 are more recent. The brand was bachmann E-Z knuckle. I think i should have went home, got an extra $1 and bought the kadee and got 6 pairs. The problem, hole is too big! the screw goes right through it! so im gonna put it back on and save it for the other stock. is their anyway i could narrow the hole? if not, is their any other brand that might work? Thanks!

[ABC]

Here's some advice to guide your future purchases. When buying rolling stock all you have to look for is two things: 1.can it easily be converted to kadee couplers and 2. can the trucks/wheelsets easily be replaced As long as it satisfies those 2 criteria you can make a cheap car just as good as some higher priced cars. For example Atheran blue box kits fit this criteria, they are only about $5 to $6 and the trucks and couplers are easily upgraded to make them as good as a $12-15 car. One thing to avoid is older rolling stock with talgo trucks (with truck mounted couplers that are prone to derailment and more difficult to convert to knuckle style couplers). Although, what you can do is replace the talgo trucks with a good set of standard trucks with metal wheelsets preferably and mount the kadee couplers on the body.

[OldTimer]

I'm not sure I understand what hole you are talking about?  The hole in the coupler shank, a hole in the car floor?  Were the original couplers body mounted or truck mounted?

[jettrainfan]

Oldtimer, its the coupler shank.

ABC, i got these about 8 years ago because my mom found them in someone's lawn. and they've been in storage till about 4 years ago when i got another box with tyco stuff. And that's how i got into Ho scale trains.

[full maxx]

you could also find one that the knuckle will fit and do one end and leave the other with the horn hook so the rest will couple to it

[OldTimer]

There has to be some structure to center the coupler, otherwise it will not couple reliably, so you can't just screw the coupler to the floor.  Did your EZ Mate couplers come with draft gear boxes?  If I recall correctly, I don't think they do.  If the floor is flat, you can put one of your new couplers in a draft gear box and screw that to the floor.  Or, you may have use an X-acto knife and clear away the existing coupler attachment, then put your new coupler in a draft gear box and screw it to the floor.  Your screw should not fall through the hole in the draft gear box.  When you go back to the hobby shop, get one of Kadee's drill and tap sets (#50 drill and 2-56 tap).  Then if you need a hole, you've got the tools to make it.  Kadee also sells 2-56 screws. 

If you have truck mounted couplers, the Kadee 20 series couplers come with hardware to help you mount them on the truck.  If your Tyco cars are old enough to have metal bolsters (the horizontal part that goes between the sideframes and holds the coupler), you will have to remove the coupler pocket from the truck and body mount the coupler.  Hope this helps.
Old Timer

[jettrainfan]

OK, ill try the draft gear boxes. I got a few left from when i needed 1 for my old anthem coach. so i got 7 and im willing to try it. I'll let you know on the progress later.

[Jhanecker2]

jettrainfan: check out the Kadee Website and look at the pdf. instructions for the #20 series of couplers & boxes. On one of the pages they have instructions for retro-fitting bachmann coupler boxes. I replaced the couplers on old bachmann and also life-like rolling stock and found that the old bachmann had smaller holes than the life-like couplers. Since I was reusing the talgo mounts the adapter fit both the Kadee and the EZ Mate  II couplers.
The # 20 series has plastic adapter rings that fit the new knuckle couplers holes. See if that would solve your problem.

[jettrainfan]

Success! it worked! I thought those things would never come in handy! thanks for the help! i thought i would tell that it worked. took me 20 minutes on the hopper so im gonna start on the rest.

[OldTimer]

Good for you!!!!!!!!!!!!