Help finding MTH short couplers

Bob,

Take a look here.

https://mthtrains.com/parts. Put in the model number of that B unit and you will find the parts list.  They ID several couplers.

I have a bunch of couplers from some MTH Premier passenger cars.  I'll go measure them.  If they are what you need, you can have them.

I empathize with you on the Kadee issue.  I had to cut the touge on the trucks to install the Kadee which had holes pre drilled at manufacture.

Ron

You could probably use the short couplers from the subway sets. Part # DD-000005

It appears the ones I have may be like the ones you have now.

It's not clear how much tighter you can really make it.  FWIW, all my cars have fixed couplers, not magnetic couplers.  If I made these any closer, even on O72, the diaphragms come together.  Any tighter curves and you might have them pushing the cars off the tracks.

Thanks Ron

Your operating couplers are the same length as the fixed couplers on the Aerotrain.  Thanks for the tip on looking up MTH parts.

Here are the gaps on straight and curved track using the 2 different size diaphragms that come with the set.

Straight track narrow diaphragms

Straight track wide diaphragms

Inside of O-72 curve wide diaphragms

Outside of O-72 curve wide diaphragms

Inside of O-72 curve narrow diaphragms

Outside of O-72 curve narrow diaphragms

John

I plan to use the narrow diaphragms, so I can pull the cars together about 1/2" before they touch.  Then I will use John Sethian's method of nesting a cut down wide diaphragm inside one of the narrow diaphragms to fill the gap that opens on curves.   The inside piece will telescope when going around the curve.

Thanks Matt.  I'll look at the subway couplers.

Bob

I'll be checking out what you do with yours, if it looks good, I'll try the same thing.  Sadly, the subway couplers are no longer available, maybe we could get some 3D printed?

The subway couplers DD-0000005 are no longer available.

There are 2 couplers listed for the F3 B unit DD-0000003 and DD-0000023 and neither are available.

The subway couplers are stated to be 14mm so that probably will work.  

So . . . is this a dead end because it states no longer available, or do I contact MTH about it?  What is the best way to get an answer from them?

Thanks everyone.  I have been in O scale for 9 years, but I'm feeling like a newbie.   I can't believe I have not had to order parts from MTH before!

Bob

Many Williams diesels use short, fixed couplers. Those can easily be made to work .

Walthers used to make a short-shank 3-rail dummy coupler for O gauge trains that may be an option to consider.  It has two mounting holes so you could chose the length the coupler sticks out.  It would require some kitbashing by either making your own draft box or just drilling mounting holes in the undercarriage to accommodate the couplers.  Either approach would probably require using shims depending on the car.  I used to have a number of these and used them way back in the late 80's/early 90s with Weaver freight cars to not only shorten the distance between cars but also allow the cars to ride at a prototypical height, since the Weaver 3 rail trucks and coupler assembly made the cars ride too high.  This was before I ended up swapping to Kadees to have an even better scale appearance and to allow automatic coupling.

This website has them available:

https://scalecitydesigns.com/4...-keil-line-walthers/

Thanks John.   The Scale City dummy couplers will work. They will be easy to cut and drill for whatever length I need.  I may even be able to use the MTH centering springs.  They will be completely hidden so I don't need to worry about height or appearance. Can't beat the price either, 6 for $7.

Thanks everyone.  

Bob

Bob, let me know how these work out.

You're welcome Bob, like GRJ I'd be curious how they work for your application.  Another idea I just thought of is that maybe you can fabricate a custom-length hitch and pin type of drawbar from styrene or brass so there's articulation in the center of the drawbar so it's between the diaphragms of the cars and you can make it whatever ideal length desired.  Atlas O uses a similar mechanism with their articulated freight cars in addition to some GGD passenger cars, the only difference in your application is the pivot point omits the trucks.

I'll repost after I install them.

Bob