Couplings

[Kev Green]

I’ve seen. Bachmann engine on EBay I quite like the look of but it has this connector, can I replace it with a hook and loop to suit my Piko and LGB carriages and wagons? If so is it an easy job?

 

[Gizzy]

I’ve seen. Bachmann engine on EBay I quite like the look of but it has this connector, can I replace it with a hook and loop to suit my Piko and LGB carriages and wagons? If so is it an easy job?View attachment 311219

I think from looking at the picture, that the loco is a Bachmann 2-4-2 steam loco?

The mounting there is for a Knuckle Coupler I think? I brought one of these locos many years ago when working in the USA. I brought a couple of 2nd hand Bachmann US coaches to run with it back in the UK. It was the first and only US rolling stock I owned.

I stuck with the Knuckles, but I found that the loco would drag the coaches off the rails when on R1 curves. I had a lot of R1s at that time, as I'd only just started my G scale journey. I decided to sell on the loco and coaches on Ebay. From that point on, I decided to stick with LGB as I knew it would work on R1 curves. Piko didn't make G scale at that time, but they also make all their rolling stock work on R1 too.

So looking at your picture, I believe the coupling is missing. It's body mounted, as opposed to being mounted on the trailing truck. I don't think it will be easy to fit a hook and loop coupling on the trailing truck. If you did find a way to mount one on the body, I reckon it would drag stock off the rails on tight curves.

So in short, no, not an easy job. You might be able to get a replacement knuckle, but then this would throw up lots of incompatible coupler issues....

 

[Kev Green]

I think from looking at the picture, that the loco is a Bachmann 2-4-2 steam loco?

The mounting there is for a Knuckle Coupler I think? I brought one of these locos many years ago when working in the USA. I brought a couple of 2nd hand Bachmann US coaches to run with it back in the UK. It was the first and only US rolling stock I owned.

I stuck with the Knuckles, but I found that the loco would drag the coaches off the rails when on R1 curves. I had a lot of R1s at that time, as I'd only just started my G scale journey. I decided to sell on the loco and coaches on Ebay. From that point on, I decided to stick with LGB as I knew it would work on R1 curves. Piko didn't make G scale at that time, but they also make all their rolling stock work on R1 too.

So looking at your picture, I believe the coupling is missing. It's body mounted, as opposed to being mounted on the trailing truck. I don't think it will be easy to fit a hook and loop coupling on the trailing truck. If you did find a way to mount one on the body, I reckon it would drag stock off the rails on tight curves.

So in short, no, not an easy job. You might be able to get a replacement knuckle, but then this would throw up lots of incompatible coupler issues....

View attachment 311220

Thank you that’s exactly what it is. It’s a U.S. made engine and ran on the Lynton and Barnstaple Railway which is near to where I live so thought it would be an interesting addition

 

[JimmyB]

If this is a Bachmann and that is the OEM mount, then Bachmann Hook and Lops will fit simply, this in my Lyn replacement coupling instructions see attachment.

 

[Gizzy]

If this is a Bachmann and that is the OEM mount, then Bachmann Hook and Lops will fit simply, this in my Lyn replacement coupling instructions see attachment.

That is a very useful diagram Jimmy.

I couldn't work out how to fit a H&L coupler on this loco from the picture I posted? It seems you need some adapter pieces.

My only concern for Kev would be how it copes on R1 curves, so perhaps you can allay those concerns for him....

 

[JimmyB]

That is a very useful diagram Jimmy.

I couldn't work out how to fit a H&L coupler on this loco from the picture I posted? It seems you need some adapter pieces.

My only concern for Kev would be how it copes on R1 curves, so perhaps you can allay those concerns for him....

The coupling is sprung on a long link, if you look at the attached, the left hand 2 drawings show the underside.

 

[dunnyrail]

I’ve seen. Bachmann engine on EBay I quite like the look of but it has this connector, can I replace it with a hook and loop to suit my Piko and LGB carriages and wagons? If so is it an easy job?View attachment 311219

Looking at the sundry drawings it looks likely if the parts are present putting LGB loops should not be a big problem, though you may need to source them and adapters. I would imagine someone on the forum should be able to help with the adapters. Noting Gizzy ’s concern about dragging vehicles off on R1’s. It looks entirely possible (see D2 post#6) to be able to remove the centring spring on the rear that could have been the cause of his derailments. Though this bodge means it would not centre for coupling, a small adjustment with a finger should sort that.

 

[Gizzy]

Noting Gizzy ’s concern about dragging vehicles off on R1’s.

The one I owned, had Knuckle couplers, as did the Bachmann coaches, rather than H&L couplings. I did see if I could fit H&L, but I wasn't aware of the adapter pieces then, until Jimmy's diagram on this thread. Whatever (body mounted) couplings are used, I just wanted to make Kev aware of the issues if using R1 curves....

 

[JimmyB]

The one I owned, had Knuckle couplers, as did the Bachmann coaches, rather than H&L couplings. I did see if I could fit H&L, but I wasn't aware of the adapter pieces then, until Jimmy's diagram on this thread. Whatever (body mounted) couplings are used, I just wanted to make Kev aware of the issues if using R1 curves....

Having had a number of Bachmann locos, some have come with spare couplings and adaptors, this is just an array, but we would need to know the model number to determine the correct adaptor, though I am sure there are not that many.

 

[dunnyrail]

The one I owned, had Knuckle couplers, as did the Bachmann coaches, rather than H&L couplings. I did see if I could fit H&L, but I wasn't aware of the adapter pieces then, until Jimmy's diagram on this thread. Whatever (body mounted) couplings are used, I just wanted to make Kev aware of the issues if using R1 curves....

Indeed so, I had hoped to highlight a possible solution.