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 Posted - March 16 2007 : 4:56:23 PM
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REFRESHED 12-2-09 for current topic on metal wheels for Tyco -- Smokie this may help you
Here is a pictoral guide to adding kadee couplers and metal wheels to your tyco bachmann life-like or other brand of ho scale car without a body mounted coupler pocket. Tools you will need are sprue cutting pliers-walthers goo-5/64 drill bit and drill for enlarging wheel holes on trucks. To assemble your coupler pocket- i recommend Ambroid pro weld as it dries in 10 sec. LOOK AT PICTURES OF COUPLER LIDS FOR EACH MOUNTING METHOD. BODY MOUNT COUPLERS ON FOLLOWING TYCO ONLY= OPERATING HOPPER CARS-BOXCARS-BILLBOARD HOPPERS-GONDOLAS FLAT CARS AND TANK CARS. COUPLER MOUNT ON COAL CARS-TRIPLE AXLE TANK CARS- CABOOSES(CAN BE BODY MOUNTED ALSO) AND LOCOS-I RECOMMEND THIS TO KEEP COUPLER HEIGHTS EVEN. You could body mount all couplers(better performance if you do-but is not possible on some tyco without serious modification) to rolling stock but not the locos- shims would have to made for some cars. Triple axle tank cars coupler mount method described below. All couplers pictured are infamous Kadee#5's. i have used these methods successfully and installing metal wheels greatly improves performance. The use of under or over shank couplers may be neccessary also if uncoupling occurs-see kadee chart for this.
this picture shows truck being trimmed for body mounting coupler using sprue cutter. hold your cutter even and snip both sides and original coupler pin off.
this is what it looks like after trimming original-should be close to smooth and even-
This is what your kadee coupler pocket should look like assembled for body mounting couplers
apply goo to coupler pocket
place coupler on center of car. trim the outer holes off coupler pocket for maximum turning on curves
using 5/64 drill bit and holding truck-carefully enlarge holes on truck to install metal wheels. you must do this for them to roll freely. if you are going to use stock wheels skip this.(drilling tip-let drill bit go into hole slightly-make sure all plastic is out of hole
this is what it looks like with metal wheels installed
completed car with metal wheels and kadee coupler installed.
for mounting couplers on original truck using kadee housing-trim sides of original coupler pocket even( as shown in picture below)
This is what your mounted truck coupler housing will look like assembled
picture of coupler mounted on truck and metal wheels installed.
Edited by - Brianstyco on December 02 2009 1:41:54 PM
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Posted - March 16 2007 : 5:56:03 PM
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Hmmm... that's interesting. I've had trouble installing metal wheelsets but haven't considered enlarging the journal holes.
How come you have to glue the kadee boxes on top of the integrated Tyco ones? Reason I ask, is that I've dumped Kadee #5's straight into the Tyco boxes, and the heights are about the same as with any other Athearn, Walthers, INtermountain, etc. car.
In fact, Kadee even sells a coupler kit (#27) with a special plate, specifically made to use the Tyco draft gear and lock the spring in place (if you use a #5 coupler/spring alone without the special #27 adapter, it sort of floats around).
You do make a very good point: coupler height is an important consideration! I love the Bachmann Cylindrical Hoppers and have quite a few of the initial releases. It was better / easier to convert them to talgo-mount Kadees, than to body mount, because the heights would have been all off without adding styrene pads (and painting them to match, UGH). The updated versions have quite a bit of material added to solve this problem.
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Posted - March 16 2007 : 6:07:29 PM
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"In fact, Kadee even sells a coupler kit (#27) with a special plate, specifically made to use the Tyco draft gear and lock the spring in place (if you use a #5 coupler/spring alone without the special #27 adapter, it sort of floats around). "
Originally posted by GoingInCirclez - March 16 2007 : 4:56:03 PM
You are right G-I-C forgot about those #27 models for tyco-i have packs of them somewhere around here-but after snipping a few pockets off and using kadees pocket-works great also. I have had no problems
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 Posted - March 16 2007 : 8:20:37 PM
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 Oops... brain fart time. I forgot where you trimmed the box off; the picture at first looked like they were stacked.
But you're right! The couplers should be about the same heigh using your method.
What's even better, is this is a great way to use trcuks where the stock talgo pin has been broken! Great idea! Great pics too BTW. [^]
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Posted - March 24 2007 : 1:34:46 PM
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Brian,
How are you adding KD's to locos? Is the modification reversable? [^]
Alco Fan
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Posted - March 24 2007 : 4:52:18 PM
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| On the locomotives-i am completely removing the original coupler the way shown on the trucks-snipping it even to glue on the kadee box with walthers goo- will get some pictures up shortly. If you want it to be reversible-use the kadee#27 for tyco which allows you to use tyco's pin to mount coupler
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Posted - August 11 2007 : 10:13:29 AM
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| Nice tip with the drill, I've got this bookmarked for an eventual tutorial link page on my web page.
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Posted - December 02 2009 : 2:54:03 PM
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very cool But I sure ain't gonna do this to my cars nopes I like the old couplers Tho I do need some 
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Posted - December 02 2009 : 3:25:31 PM
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thanks brian, that's the one i was looking for.
jerry
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