Hello all
Need some help. My locos and rolling stock are all Bachman. I am having problems with the new Bachmann porthole coaches, when the loco pushes them the loco coupler goes over the top of the coach coupler. Have rung Bachman they can't help. Is it me….. need help please….:sad:

Could be a matter of height difference in the couplings. It doesn't need much. Check them on a flat straight bit of track and see if the loops butt up against each other. Also is there any sag in the couplings on either the coach or the loco and are the couplings the same size.

Maybe you can do as advised by Bittern and take a couple of pictures at track level, post them on here and we can take a look to see what's happening.

Bob

Hi thanks for the reply
The couplings are coming undone at spots on the railway but not always the same. When the engine pushes the coaches on even the slightest curve the engine coupler rides over the coach coupler and causes problems, this happens at any speed. Both the engines were purchased this year and the coaches last week. When placed on the flat all the couplers are nearly the same height.  But of cause no track laid is completely level as a board. All the track is Peco 100 and laid on peco foam underlay fixed to the board with peco pins.
Cheers.

I have the same problem with Bachmann couplings which is why I have changed them all to the medium size Hornby type, which I obtained from Peter's Spares.

Another reason for changing is because I use the Brian Kirby uncoupling system which doesn't work very well with the Smaller tension lock couplings.

John.

[user=1726]Puffpuffbuff[/user] wrote:

I have the same problem with Bachmann couplings which is why I have changed them all to the medium size Hornby type, which I obtained from Peter's Spares.

Another reason for changing is because I use the Brian Kirby uncoupling system which doesn't work very well with the Smaller tension lock couplings.

John.

Hi John,

This is intriguing as I thought the Kirby system would only work with non-magnetic couplers, ie Bachmann. I thought all the Hornby variants were magnetic and thus do not swing upwards as they pass over the magnet, being attracted to it. Have you somehow modified yours to solve this problem?

Sorry about going off topic a bit Mildud.

Bob

Bob,

I've found that metal couplings work perfectly well with the Brian Kirby uncoupling system.

I originally used the same method as outlined on the demo video on You Tube but after some experimentation 'tweaked' the method to suit my specific requirements.

I discovered that soft iron florist's wire worked perfectly if a small loop was incorporated in the 'tail' attached to the dropper thus giving the magnet something substantial to grab on.   The tail is approximately 25mm long and is 'crimpt' and spot soldered on to the dropper.  The tail, being soft Iron wire, rather than a small steel staple, can be easily adjusted to maximise operation.

All my rolling stock is p'handed' having the coupling hook removed from one end thus making uncoupling much easier.    It also means that transfers go twice as far.   Also by swapping the couplings to the other end, I can change the name and/or number of the loco, thus doubling the fleet.

I did also experiment with 'PHD' etched brass coupling hook frets but found that there was far too much 'slop' and lateral movement preventing them from working properly even when I inserted plastic 'shims' either side of the small hook which attached them to the coupling proper.   With some wagons and locos, the fret, rubbed on the sleepers and caused derailments especially on code 75 track.

John.

The forums 'Engineer', Gormo (Gormeng - Gormo Engineering), has no problems with uncoupling Bachmann slim couplings using the Kirby system, although his own take on it. He has written a great piece in his thread, including shunting with the Gormeng system.

See here ;  http://yourmodelrailway.net/view_topic.php?id=11121&forum_id=21&page=37#p222477

Read on from this link right through to post 761. Don't forget to watch Gormovissions great video productions !

Cheers, Gary.

ps. I decided to change all my tension lock couplings for Kadee… :thumbs

Self trumpet blowing time……..

http://yourmodelrailway.net/view_topic.php?id=6277&forum_id=11&highlight=dooferdog+magnets

I thought I was sooooooo clever until I found out that some chappy had thought up the basic premise before me. However, I claim authorship of the noedmyi, er nodimiyon, er very small magents, I mean magnets.

Royalties may be paid in Guinness Tokens to my agent.

They are strong enough to buried well down in the ballast where they become inwisable, or left visible nearer the surface, and painted a stippled black to look like drain covers.

Doug

I have had similar problems with droopy Bachmann couplings.

You can try packing them out with thin plastic or tape to get a tighter fit.