New style couplers

[alv7722]

I just got the Golden Spike N scale set to get into DCC.  The new couplers do not mate with my older Bachmann rolling stock.  How do I change them to match the older style??

[gatrhumpy]

The new style is called knuckle couplers. They are the industry standard now. Either you will have to convert your older trains to the new knuckle couplers or convert your engine to rapido couplers.

[brokemoto]

You have several choices.

B-mann sells dummy knuckle couplers that will work with any of them.

Go to the Micro-Trains website, look at the conversion tables and you will see what to use for your equipment.  The MT 1133 is almost universal for the older B-mann.  You can use 1134 for sharper curves, as the 1134 is simply a long shank version of the 1133.  If you use those couplers, buy the MT coupler tweezers.  They make working with 1133/1134 easy.

Red Caboose sells Unimates, that work with almost all knuckle couplers.

Kato sells different styles of knuckle couplers.  Some work better than others.

If you get hold of some older MDC rolling stock, they come with a knuckle coupler for which you can swap out the Rapido.  Those couplers are not the best.  You get unwanted uncouplings frequently with those.