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One Last Comment on Truck Mounted Couplers and also the CZ Passenger Cars

markermarkerOGR Forum Member

A while back I made the suggestion that 3 rail manufacturers should go to truck mounted "scale" sized couplers, as a way to get the masses to accept a scale sized coupler and I got blasted on this section of the forum.  My newest layout works fine with body mounted couplers so it isn't anything I need, but it would be nice to quit dealing with Lionel sized couplers especially on engines.  

 

When I received the Lionel Santa Fe Map cars, I became obsessed with getting rid of the Lionel couplers and it spread to a more or less "Kadee Week", where all I did was replace couplers.  The "Grand Finale" was the conversion of an MTH Alco S2, for switching duties. 

 

In the process, I opened some boxes of Atlas freight cars I purchased back around 2004.  They had free "adjust a couplers" in the box, which I had forgotten about.  And yes, there was a manufacturer that tried to get 3 railers to start using scale sized couplers.  I never got a chance to try them, and unfortunately, they were defective. 

 

I wonder if anyone ever tried changing over to them and if so, did they give up because the couplers broke?

 

I pulled a set out of the box and then realized I might be able to use them on a CZ car.  I had purchased a bunch of new Atlas replacement couplers so I replaced the coupler in the old "adjust-a" box, and it turned out pretty nice.  It is one way to use a scale sized coupler and keep the ability to negotiate a tighter diameter curve, although 0-72 is the recommended min. curve. 

 

There was no cutting, just a screw driver.  It is accomplished using the freight "adjust-a-coupler" box, by mounting it to the adjustment slider that came with the claw.  I can't test the reliability right now, but am going to run some of the cars that way for a while when it is possible on my layout. 

 

A weird thing of note is that Atlas states the the min radius for the 2 rail body mounted coupler version is 36" and the 3 rail claw version is recommended at 0-72 (diameter), so it seems that there really isn't any gain, but I will experiment. 

 

Look, I'm just throwing it all out there because I found it interesting.

 

 

CZ car with scale sized "adjust-a-coupler"

 

CZadjusta

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AGHRMattAGHRMattOGR Forum Member SUPPORTING MEMBERMEMORIAL SUPPORTER

The adjust-a-couplers' problem was that they were based on the original Atlas body-mounted scale couplers which tended to be too stiff and/or would break. I think the adjust-a-couplers didn't catch on because most buyers wanting scale couplers had curves broad enough so they didn't have to truck mount them. I have a few sets unused still in the boxes with the freight cars that included them.

BD Bob DelbridgeOGR Forum Member

I still have maybe 3-4 pairs of the Adjust-A-Couplers in my parts box.

 

The only thing I found was the centering springs they used were too stiff, easily replaced with Kadee springs.  I never had an Atlas coupler actually break.

 

I stopped using them when I determined body-mounted couplers would work on my 054 and 072 curves.

 

Talgo style trucks using Kadee couplers would certainly benefit the 3-rail community and would enable folks with curves tighter than 054 to use them.

markermarkerOGR Forum Member

"The adjust-a-couplers' problem was that they were based on the original Atlas body-mounted scale couplers which tended to be too stiff and/or would break."

 

"The only thing I found was the centering springs they used were too stiff, easily replaced with Kadee springs.  I never had an Atlas coupler actually break."

 

You guys basically agree, and this is my experience.

 

Taking them out of the (2004) boxes, I was able to get the knuckle to break with just a little pressure.  There was some problems with die-casting back then.  Those problems are gone with the new factory and new replacement couplers.

 

With regard to the centering springs, there are a number of people that replace them with Kadee springs and have good luck.  I have taken that advice and use the Kadee centering springs with Atlas couplers.

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