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Post by neverland on Sept 24, 2017 13:53:07 GMT -5
How difficult is it changing out Marklin couplers for knuckle style couplers? Any tips, brands, techniques, etc. to recommend?
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Post by strummer on Sept 24, 2017 14:27:53 GMT -5
I believe Micro Trains has a "drop in" replacement...(?)
Mark in Oregon
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Post by tjdreams on Sept 24, 2017 15:00:02 GMT -5
Micro Trains old #902 new #002 02 010 will work to replacing marklin truck mounted couplers
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Post by railtwister on Sept 24, 2017 18:45:18 GMT -5
If you want truck mounted couplers on your MTL cars that came originally equipped with Marklin hooks, all you need to do is pull the truck pins, remove the Marklin hooks, and replace the old trucks with new truck mounted coupler units and you are ready to go. Replacing the Marklin hooks with body mounted couplers is almost as easy, but a bit cheaper, since you won't need new truck assemblies, just buy the already assembled MTL couplers. If you go this way, you will need to ream and tap the factory coupler mounting holes (a pin vise plus a 00-90 tap & drill are needed), and screw the new couplers using the 00-90 screws supplied with the MTL couplers. For most Marklin US style freight cars, I prefer to make a new under floor made out of styrene with a small bolster block cut from strip styrene, with MTL trucks (your choice of body mounted couplers or truck mounts). This allows you to mount the trucks closer to the ends of the car, which looks more prototypical. The truth is, I did this with one Marklin car, and from that point forward, I only purchased MTL cars in the first place, because they are so much nicer looking.
Bill in FtL
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Post by strummer on Sept 24, 2017 23:42:33 GMT -5
The truth is, I did this with one Marklin car, and from that point forward, I only purchased MTL cars in the first place, because they are so much nicer looking. Bill in FtL I agree, though I will say I think the Marklin caboose is rather nice looking, and is quite different from MTL's "cabin car"; I wonder how difficult it would be to dump the stock trucks and couplers, and replace with MTL's...anyone here done that? Mark in Oregon |
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Post by markm on Sept 25, 2017 8:00:42 GMT -5
Mark, There used to be a conversion kit available: www.zscalemonster.com/zelatory/that worked quite nicely. I converted several cars and a tender. Beyond that, the solution is fill and drill: fill (or cover) the oversized Märklin bolster hole and drill a new MTL-sized hole. You will probably want to relocate the hole as the Märklin truck positions are no necessarily in a prototypical correct position. Mark |
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Post by neverland on Sept 25, 2017 10:14:57 GMT -5
Mark, There used to be a conversion kit available: www.zscalemonster.com/zelatory/that worked quite nicely. I converted several cars and a tender. Beyond that, the solution is fill and drill: fill (or cover) the oversized Märklin bolster hole and drill a new MTL-sized hole. You will probably want to relocate the hole as the Märklin truck positions are no necessarily in a prototypical correct position. Mark Thx Mark. Afraid at my age I'm too inept for fill & drill. 😕 |
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