Replacing the old horn hook couplers

[jward]

balrog.

i strongly advise you against following that video. just because you "can " do something doesn't mean you should. the evils of truck mounted couplers have already been discussed. what hasn't been touched on yet is the criticality of coupler height with knuckle couplers. any mismatch of height, and they won't stay coupled. did you notice that he just slapped the couplers into the boxes without checquing them against a coupler height guage? from my experience with conversions like this years ago, using the existing truck mounted coupler boxes usually results in couplers being too low. i guarantee that if you try to take this shortcut you will have alot of coupler problems you really don't want.

[Balrog21]

yeah, i noticed that as well. it's just a starting point for me from a clueless new train lover. thanks again though for the heads up!

[rbryce1]

Another thing you may have noticed is that the coupler that came out had an extremely small pin hole, and the one that went back in had a hole over three times the size.  Normally you would insert a round spacer that Kadee sells to adjust for the hole size, but he didn't even do that.  What a mess!

[jward]

not a problem. just trying to keep others from making the same mistakes i did years ago. experience is a powerful teacher.

[electrical whiz kid]

utDave;
I have one of those tool, and you are right; it is good.  A part of my proceedure is when I am changing a truck to good wheelsets, I will ream out the axle pockets, and give the pocket a squirt or two of graphite.
Rich C. 

[jbrock27]

Don't use this method !!

[electrical whiz kid]

Jim;
What method is that?...

Rich C.

[jbrock27]

Didn't you read about the method the OP was posting about?