The original coupler on the Connie tender was a truck mounted coupler, I’m pretty sure. The AMS coupler is body mounted. They usually will not match up.
You will have to put a body mounted coupler on the Connie if you want things to work right, or a truck mounted coupler on one truck of your AMS couches.
Thanks Steve…I was figuring that to be the option. I’m thinking body mounting the coupler on the Connie to be the best option. I really like the look of the coach couplers.
Jon Radder said
I am an AMS coupler fan as well. I go a little further than Jack in my “clean up” of stock couplers. Al Pomeroy taught me that by carefully filing the mating parts you can make the operation much smoother to the point where only one coupler needs to be opened to uncouple a car. I cleaned a bunch of them but have yet to get my fleet completely upgraded - still on my to-do list.
I’d be interested to hear more about how to do that. I’ve chosen AMS couplers for their hands on operation.
Patrick
Hey Patrick -
I don’t really have a step, by step and it’s been over a year since I did a bunch. I’ll see if I can get some photos of a “modified” Vs a “factory” coupler that might help. There was bunch of filing on the inside of the knuckle to allow the second to slip out when only one was open. Basically eliminating all the drag points. And while I was at it, the mold marks were filed off the outside too.
For now I’ve ordered a pair of Kadee 781’s with the body mount kit Connie. This is the conversion Kadee lists on their website. So hopefully this will get things operational in a few days.
I appreciate the ongoing discussions and suggestions.
Richard
Well,I’m not thrilled with the Kadee’s I purchased. The tender coupler still hangs too low and isn’t even a very tight fit. Even after doing the modification per instructions. It is still lower than the gauge I bought and assembled from Kadee. So now I’m thinking of moving to the Accucraft coupler.
After looking at the Accucraft coupler, It looks though like I will have to cut a rectangular notch in the back of the tender so it it can fit and be bolted down. Question…is this strong enough or is there more modification that I need to do. I’m a bit worried to keep “trying” things only to find I messed things up
Richard
Richard -
Here’s what I did with my Connie bash:
As I recall (it’s been a while) I did have to do some cutting of the beam to mount the AMS coupler using Kadee draft gear.
The AMS 1:20 coupler pocket bolts on nicely to the “Connie.”
Later,
K
Thanks Kevin and Jack…the pictures are great to look at. And Kevin, it was a post you wrote that I found elsewhere (can’t remember where) that has caused me to go with Accucraft. I’ve just ordered several pairs this morning and looking forward to getting things running.
This is bit off topic…but my tender has had some damage…mainly the rear steps are broken off and one of the plastic hooks holding the rod (just under the ladder) is broken off…and the rod is gone. I couldn’t find any replacement parts on the Bachmann site but since you’ve bashed yours thought you might have a source for ordering new parts…all of this seems part of the tender base. So I can call Bachmann to see if they sell just that part.
Thanks,
Richard