Aristocraft Class 66 - Coupling Issues

[Steven.T]

Hi All,
My Uncle has recently bought a Aristocraft class 66, now the engine itself is fine, just he is having problems with the couplers.

For those who don't know, the Coupler on the 66 is really the same as the lgb type, just without the hook part, and with the loop fitted to the body. The problem is when the engine goes over the slightest of bumps, the hook of the truck behind lifts enough to come away from the loop on the engine, and as there isn't a hook on the engine, the trucks just end up rolling away.

I have made a temporary fix by putting a cable-tie through the two loops, but I could do with a more (or less?) permanent solution!

I have thought about fitting a normal LGB coupler but I can't see how I can do this on the class 66.

Anyone had any similar problems or any ideas on how to fix this?
Thanks for any help in advance,
Steven

P.S. if you need any photos to explain what I am talking about let me know and I'll take some!

 

[yb281]

I've not done this on a 66, but on a couple of my LGB locos which have a loop on the front but no hook (because it looks less obtrusive), I bend a piece of wire (a paper clip will do) into a square C shape so that it can be super glued into the sides of the loop, but hangs down slightly lower that the coupling. The hook on a wagon will hold onto the wire and will not come uncoupled accidentaly.

I'll see if I can find a pic which will better describe this.

 

[yb281]

Hopefully you can see the wire under the front coupling in this picture of my Corpet.

 

[Gizzy]

Not sure but can you fit a LGB 64402 hook to this loco?

http://www.dragon-gscale.co.uk/lgb-64402-coupler-hook-spring-pin-2005-p.asp

I can post one up to you to try if you like.

Or maybe someone here has the ART version going spare you could try....

 

[Steven.T]

Hi Gizzy,
Thanks for the offer, however there is no-where for the hook to fit on, I have taken a spare one from one of the LGB trucks and there is no way it will fit anywhere.

Here are a few photos to help me describe, the loop is actually backed by the bufferbeam!

And not the best photo, but the best of the underneath I could get!:

Cheers,
Steven

 

[mmts]

Is there not a nuckle type coupling in the box.........
Will investigate shortly if mine has....

 

[Steven.T]

Nope no Knuckle coupling, is there supposed to be?

 

[Tony]

The 66 has fixed body couplers to keep the body prototypicaly low and is designed tobe used with the inntermodal containner wagons and they have long couplings that swival on the bogie thereby eliminating the body overhang on corners what you need is a bogie type wagon or coach as the first one behind the loco you can unscrew the coupler (one screw) and fit the chain (that should be in the box) but thats not really any better

Tony

 

[Steven.T]

Hi Tony, my Uncle has the inter-modal wagons made by aristocraft, but these still come away.

The chain you are talking about, is this in the class 66' or the intermodals box?
Also do you mean the coupler on the loco is unscrewed? As I can't seem to see anywhere to hook a chain onto?

Thanks
Steven

 

[ntpntpntp]

Er... if the track is so bumpy it causes a hook'n'loop to uncouple, doesn't this imply the track laying needs sorting out?

I like Mel's design of secondary wire loop to keep the hook in place, that's neat.

I also agree with Tony, it's because the loop is body-mounted that it helps to have a bogie wagon 1st behind the loco, with a truck-mounted hoop 'n' loop.

I run my 66 and intermodals using knuckle couplings (yes there should be one supplied with the loco), and even with these I found I had to modify the body-mounted knuckle on the loco, inserting a piece of Meccano L bracket to allow a little more length and a little more swing. This is even though I have minimum R3 curves on my line. There was one place where the 1st wagon would sometimes get pulled off and derailed, I think the couplings on the intermodals are quite stiff and don't swivel too well, but it was probably adding a few mm of length to the shank on the loco's coupling that made the most difference.

 

[Steven.T]

Hi Nick, the track is just layed on the lawn for now, which apart from one part, is fairly level. It seems to uncouple at random.
Most of the rolling stock does have bogie mounted couplers, and we have been using these but it seems partly as though the loop on the 66 may be too high, but there is no adjustment here.

Were Knuckle couplers in the box with the 66? I'm beginning to think there may be bits missing...
Thanks
Steven

 

[ntpntpntp]

Ah well, if it's just a temporary track on the lawn then fairy nuff! Been there, done that, had similar problems!

Yes there should be a packet of alternative couplers, so that you can run with either hook'n'loop or knuckles. As you've noticed, these are specialised versions of the couplings which plug into the bufferbeam. My 66 retains a hook'n'loop at the "front" end with the driver, just in case. I remember now, the reason I still have both the knuckles in the photo below is because my modified knuckle was made up from a coupling from another wagon, not one of the special ones.

If I remember correctly there were also packets with various handrails & grab-irons, and representations of little chains fit onto the bogies.

 

[Steven.T]

Right, thanks Nick, confirmed my suspicions.
Infact, it's wound me up a little, the model was bought from a show, the box was opened so as to show off the loco to the public, when we got it home there were no instructions, so we contacted the seller and they sent them through.
Unfortunately we have failed to realise about these extra bits, the handrails were already on the loco, and there was definitely no knuckle couplers!

Thanks
Steven

 

[PaulRhB]

With the weight of the 66 watch the track flex beneath it on the lawn and you'll probably see why it uncoupled randomly. When you look closely I'm sure you'll find quite a bit of movement on even what looks like a flat lawn. Try it on a path instead which is a lot firmer and the problem will probably go away. When it comes to a permanent line with long and heavy locos and stock it pays to have really solid foundations and gentle changes in gradient.
A temp fix would be to find a piece of thick wire you can bend into a U shape with square corners then drill through the clip that mounts i the loco loop into the body. The U should be long enough to allow the loop on the wagon to couple up and then bend the end through the clip over to stop it dropping out. The pin sticking up outside the loco loop can be trimmed down so it accommodates the vertical movement between loco and wagon.

 

[ntpntpntp]

... the model was bought from a show, the box was opened so as to show off the loco to the public, when we got it home there were no instructions, so we contacted the seller and they sent them through.
[didn't realise other bits also missing]

Unfortunate when that happens, and you're right it can be difficult to know what should be there. With a new loco one should expect some instructions of course, and maybe glance through those for references to additional parts. To do that in the hustle and bustle of negotiating a purchase at a show is asking a lot! I had to chase after a missing funnel for a Shay I bought under the same conditions, fortunately it was found and forwarded with appologies.

 

[Steven.T]

You're not wrong there Nick! I wouldn't have know that there was extras anyway, but as you say instructions would be expected!

I will contact the supplier and speak to them about it... If they turn around and say no, we don't have them, any ideas where we can get replacement knuckles that will fit from?

Cheers,
Steven

 

[PaulRhB]

Contact Bachmann for spares via their Website , the switchboard number is on the bottom of this document
http://www.bachmann.co.uk/pdfs/service_terms.pdf

 

[Tim Brien]

Just a suggestion, but the latest Bachmann Thomas range of locomotives and rolling stock come with oversized hooks (and loops). Like others, I assume, I replaced the oversized hook and loops with standard sized couplers. Possibly, some in the mother country have spare oversized hooks you could fit to the rolling stock just aft of the loco. This would ensure positive coupling.

However, with track laid directly on grass and the weight of the loco as pointed out by Paul, I do not feel any criticism of the locomotive itself is perinent. You have created the 'problem'. The oversized hooks fitted to trailing stock would fix your 'problem'.

 

[yb281]

Just a suggestion, but the latest Bachmann Thomas range of locomotives and rolling stock come with oversized hooks (and loops). Like others, I assume, I replaced the oversized hook and loops with standard sized couplers. Possibly, some in the mother country have spare oversized hooks you could fit to the rolling stock just aft of the loco. This would ensure positive coupling.

However, with track laid directly on grass and the weight of the loco as pointed out by Paul, I do not feel any criticism of the locomotive itself is perinent. You have created the 'problem'. The oversized hooks fitted to trailing stock would fix your 'problem'.

If you want to try Tim's suggestion, I've got loads of the Thomas couplings going spare. Drop me a PM if you want a set.

 

[Tony]

The coupling as you can see is removed with one screw and there should be a little square bracket that plugs into the two holes just above for fitting chains (see pic)