MT conversions

[untabubba]

I'm looking for some practical experience to help me begin my quest to convert many of my favorite cars from Rapido to MTs. I'm thinking it might be easier and better to just "swap out" the whole truck, rather than engage in hand-to-hand combat with those darn little springs! To that end I went looking and found there are quite a few types of trucks. How do I know which to use? Is there a prototypical protocol, or is it a matter of "taste"? Will they all fit? Also, I went, numbers in hand, to a very good LHS. I didn't tell the guy I had the numbers. I wanted to see what he would give me. Sure enough, he gave me a different number! I divulged the number I got from the MT website. He said they'd both work. I took the ones HE suggested and it was a breeze! No alterations required at all. So, what's up with THAT?? I'd appreciate any suggestions, stories or help anyone can give. Marc

[flaretired]

One more question. What is the difference between Accu-Mate and Mague-Matic couplers? Also what kind of uncoupling device do you use for the Accumate couplers? Are there any web sites or books on different kinds of couplers and how they work? Chuck 🙂

[ginzokid]

Chuck, The Magne-Matic from Micro-Trains and the Accumate work with the same uncoupling magnets. Accumate has basically copied Micro-Trains design. The under track or between track magnets from Micro-Trains are the industry standard. You can also employ the Rix hand-held magnetic uncoupler, but this involves the old 0-5-0 hand switcher to actually move the car you want uncoupled. For true hands off uncoupling, go with a track mounted magnet. As for your mentioned pricing, it all depends on which coupler conversion you are buying. Different conversions have different prices. You might look into the MT web site at www.micro-trains.com for info on their operation. Other than that, you could fill a library with coupler information alone. Your best bet is to visit a hobby shop and do some personal on site hands on research. I do not know of any specific articles on different types of couplers, but there is always the Google search. Try it. B-)

[flaretired]

I just found a bunch of articles on couplers. I found a complete history on the advancement of couplers.(Nscale supply.com) Again I ask before I do my own research. Atlas couplers are cheaper than MT. Again I guess this is my choice. So far I have not been able to beat the E-Bay price for the MT's. From all the stuff I've seen on the web MT is better than Atlas. MT's web site also had avery good description of how there coupler works. Thanks again. Chuck 🙂

[untabubba]

Pete, I actually have some Red Caboose fixed couplers. I have been thinking about putting them on my B-mann lighteds, but I haven't "played with trains" in a few weeks! I have been very preoccuoied with the end of school, shopping amplifiers, and now the beginning of summer school.....one of these days........ Chuck, Your welcome. Keep shopping prices. Don't forget to "roll" the S&H charges into the "total" total when doing your comparisons! I have actually been "tricked" into paying more for a "bargain" on ebay and on-line than I would have paid for at my LHS....the one that does slight discounts. It's a slippery slope! Marc

[flaretired]

Last night I tried for the first time to repair a Rapido coupler that was missing a shank. (this coupler is on a lighted passenger car) After finding the right size from comparing it to the other one at the other end of the car, I tried twisting it in. Guess what? The whole coupler came apart and I lost the spring. Thank goodness I have spare springs. My question now is, How do I get it back together? I can't hold all three pieces together. The spring, shank, and the piece that snaps in to hold it all together. Is there a tool or trick to putting it back together? Chuck

[untabubba]

Chuck, Ain't that a b*tch?!? The first few times I try to deal with couplers I thought I was going to scream......wait, I think I DID scream! It's just unimaginably tedious and tricky........and to imagine, there are "sweat-shops" over seas where women and children crank these things out by the hundreds for mere pennies an hour! I guess there must be a tool, or "trick" we don't know.... and it ain't just the spit thing neither! Marc

[ginzokid]

No tool Chuck. Just practice and perseverance. B-)

[flaretired]

I guess this will be a good project for me when I am calm and cool. There just has to be a way to do it, and when I figure it out I will let you guys know. Chuck 😄

[flaretired]

I got myself some of those MT trucks and have started converting over my rolling stock. I would like to know how do I convert the cars that use screws to hold the trucks on? It seems to me you can only use the kind with the pins. I tried one box car with the screws and it made it sit higher off the truck and of course I could not tighten down the screw all the way because if I did the truck would not turn. Does it matter if some of the cars are higher than the others? Chuck 🙂

[untabubba]

Chuck, In the piece I wrote I said that Bachmann uses screws and the mounting posts are too wide for the "throat" of the MT trucks. The ONLY way to get MT trucks on those (probably Bachmann cars) requires major surgery, wherein you saw off the "screw mount" flush and tap a hole for the screw, or the MT bolster pin. REAL problem!! If you do what you are trying to do, I believe the couplers will not match up. The screw mounts will sit higher than the regular pin mounts. Marc

[flaretired]

Belive it or not the couplers line up perfect. It's just that the cars sit up higher off the truck than normal. You were so right about the MT trucks. The cars seem to glide over the tracks. I wish I would of bought more when I had the chance. I have two engines that have repido couplers so I guess I will use those cars for them. By the way how do you uncouple repido's? Thanks for all the help and advice. Chuck 🙂

[untabubba]

Chuck. DUH! I guess the couplers would line-up! After all the wheels are sitting on the tracks......what was I thinkig about?!? Until you get the time (and courage) to attack the loco conversions just use a "conversion car" to link your Rapido loco (would that be a fast, crazy Latino?) to your converted MT cars. As far as uncoupling Rapidos, they are a bugger! I never figured it out. I even purchased an electric uncoupler track designed for the purpose. Alas, I never even took it out of the package, as converting to MT couplers precluded my needing it! Maybe I'll put it up on ebay. I'll let you know. untabubba@yahoo.com If you are interested. (hint hint) Marc

[ginzokid]

Chuck, You have to cut off some of the bolster on the bottom of the Bachmann cars to lower them. Just be sure you leave enough height to clear the wheels. Actually, beside the above, with these cars it is best to plug the screw hole with plastic glued in place and then drill a new hole for the MT bolster pin in the correct diameter. Throw away the screw. Better yet, throw away or sell the Bachmann cars. Hee, Hee! ;) B-)

[untabubba]

"....sell the Bachmann cars" Pete, I thought about that mice-elf! The only thing there is I do have some Bachmann cars that I really do like. They have reasonably decent "topside" detail. (I mean, how often do you really look at the bottom of your cars?!?) Like the tankers I have that have real metal piping going around them, for example. I guess I gotta "suck it up" and pick a sacrificial lamb to mutilate and see if I can do it. Cutting off the "mounting shaft" should not impact wheel set. The "collar" on the B-mann trucks fits over it and sits flush where I would be sawing the shaft off anyway. Hmmmmmm, where is that little saw? :D Marc

[flaretired]

All my passenger cars (lighted) have the repido couplers. I am still trying to fix that one car. Now I have two options. Become a seller or do the conversion thing like Marc said. MT on one end and repido on the other. Chuck 🙂