Bachmann Annie front coupling replacement.

[KeithT]

I would like to run my 2 Annies tender first or double headed on occasion but for reasons best known to Bachmann the front coupling is purely decorative beccause it is the wrong height for any rolling stock. I suppose I could modify an item of rolling stock but it isn’t straightforward and would mean always using that one as a match truck.
I have a number of offset couplings both from stock Item 88012 and some which came with the K27 however, the clever bit is to remove the existing coupler.
The parts diagram is little help, it appears to show the coupler held in place by a pin Part NoMTZ21. Unfortunately I cannot see it on my locos or any way to get to the coupling fitting. There are 2 almost inaccessible screws holding the cowcatcher but I doubt that removing these will reveal the pin.
Any ideas welcomed, as ever.

 

[KeithT]

View attachment 229816 View attachment 229818 View attachment 229817 View attachment 229816 I would like to run my 2 Annies tender first or double headed on occasion but for reasons best known to Bachmann the front coupling is purely decorative beccause it is the wrong height for any rolling stock. I suppose I could modify an item of rolling stock but it isn’t straightforward and would mean always using that one as a match truck.
I have a number of offset couplings both from stock Item 88012 and some which came with the K27 however, the clever bit is to remove the existing coupler.
The parts diagram is little help, it appears to show the coupler held in place by a pin Part NoMTZ21. Unfortunately I cannot see it on my locos or any way to get to the coupling fitting. There are 2 almost inaccessible screws holding the cowcatcher but I doubt that removing these will reveal the pin.
Any ideas welcomed, as ever.

A search of the Bachmann spares catalogue gives the impression that I will need to remove more than just the plough. But, I do not see how the entire front section is removed.

 

[G-force1]

Not that it's much help but isn't MTZ21 just the coupling jaw hinge pin, and therefore not what you are looking for?

 

[Rhinochugger]

Can't say that I've done it to an Annie - but it looks from that first diagram as if there's a small pin locating it.

Those two accessible screws may help so you might get a clearer picture from there with that little retaining bar out of the way...

Actually, I should have one in the spares box - I'll go and......................................

 

[Rhinochugger]

It looks like this with the cow catcher removed

So you've still got some cutting and carving to make a working coupler

 

[maxi-model]

I don't know if this will help but Kadee do a mod for the Annie pilot, that I have applied to mine, that couples at the standard height for Spectrum and AMS stock. See here - https://kadee.com/conv/b460bh.htm Max

 

[beavercreek]

I have put working front knuckle couplers on three Annies.
I used the Bachmann metal drop level (elbow) coupler mounted in place of the the dummy coupler box. It is the correct height for other rolling stock and allows me to double or triple head.
I have not got any good photos of the installation but here a couple showing it in position on one loco.
I took the plow off for this loco but the other two locos have the plow still in situ.

 

[KeithT]

Not that it's much help but isn't MTZ21 just the coupling jaw hinge pin, and therefore not what you are looking for?

Perhaps on some locos, but there isn’t one on either of mine, the jaw is an all one piece dummy ie not moveable although the entire assembly has some small lateral movement.

 

[KeithT]

I don't know if this will help but Kadee do a mod for the Annie pilot, that I have applied to mine, that couples at the standard height for Spectrum and AMS stock. See here - https://kadee.com/conv/b460bh.htm Max

That could be useful.. I haven’t managed to free the two screws holding the pilot beam in place as yet though. Insufficient clearance for a screwdriver and they are TIGHT. Also, it appears that the parts might be glued.

 

[KeithT]

It looks like this with the cow catcher removed

So you've still got some cutting and carving to make a working coupler

View attachment 229820

If I can just get those 2 pilot beam screws out it might let the dog see the rabbit!

 

[G-force1]

Perhaps on some locos, but there isn’t one on either of mine, the jaw is an all one piece dummy ie not moveable although the entire assembly has some small lateral movement.

I did wonder but I couldn't be sure from the pic. I've only just acquired some of these couplers on some S/H stock and from what I can see (I haven't actually used them yet) they look to be good. If they work as well as they look, I might have to reconsider my other coupling arrangements.

 

[maxi-model]

Here are a couple of pictures of th Kadee installation. Both pilot and tender. Like Mike "Beaverckeek" this allows full movement when double heading and in conjuction with both Spectrum and AMS stock. The tightest I run is 3.5 ft radius and no problems with derailing are encountered.




Here is the link to the Kadee 791 coupler page https://kadee.com/htmbord/page791-1791.htm
Again I have to stress that unlike any other suggestions here it will only work with knuckle couplers at Spectrum/AMS height not the Big Hauler stock and others at that height. Max

 

[Hal Farsed]

I did the three in my employ a long time ago. I used, I think was Aristocraft buckeye. It needed some fettling for work with Bachmanns couplers but it was successful and would stay coupled. The bolt is a 10BA, and I think the spacer washers were 8BA or whatever fitted in the coupling socket.



They looked quite convincing running tender first with 1:20.3 rolling stock.

 

[KeithT]

EDIT: Sorry, the original post escaped before I had finished editing and attaching the pic!

Some good ideas above, thanks.
I have got part way, after removing the cowcatcher, (Ithink I was calling it a plough! )it became clear what I needed to do ie remove a single screw and modify the offset coupler, having fitted the new coupler I am still way out on vertical alignment and, the cowcatcher cannot be refitted.
A little more headscratching needed but meantime I must keep an eye on an item on ebay that I am bidding for.

 

[Rhinochugger]

View attachment 229853 EDIT: Sorry, the original post escaped before I had finished editing and attaching the pic!

Some good ideas above, thanks.
I have got part way, after removing the cowcatcher, (Ithink I was calling it a plough! )it became clear what I needed to do ie remove a single screw and modify the offset coupler, having fitted the new coupler I am still way out on vertical alignment and, the cowcatcher cannot be refitted.
A little more headscratching needed but meantime I must keep an eye on an item on ebay that I am bidding for.

It's much easier to drop that coupler than to lower it - you've just got to work out how much of the cow catcher you need to hack away in order to re-fit it.

As I model in 1:20.3, and have widened some of my locos to suit the larger scale, I have fitted K27 pilots, which have the facility to accommodate working couplers a bit more easily

 

[Rhinochugger]

View attachment 229850

I did the three in my employ a long time ago. I used, I think was Aristocraft buckeye. It needed some fettling for work with Bachmanns couplers but it was successful and would stay coupled. The bolt is a 10BA, and I think the spacer washers were 8BA or whatever fitted in the coupling socket.

View attachment 229851

They looked quite convincing running tender first with 1:20.3 rolling stock.

If I understand things correctly, in order to run tender first legally on the mainline in the good ole' US of A, you would have needed a cow catcher on the tender behind

 

[G-force1]

If I understand things correctly, in order to run tender first legally on the mainline in the good ole' US of A, you would have needed a cow catcher on the tender behind

Who's got a tender behind?

 

[KeithT]

It's much easier to drop that coupler than to lower it - you've just got to work out how much of the cow catcher you need to hack away in order to re-fit it.

As I model in 1:20.3, and have widened some of my locos to suit the larger scale, I have fitted K27 pilots, which have the facility to accommodate working couplers a bit more easily

It so happens that I have a redundant K27 cowcatcher. Now where is it? Quite possibly still beneath the plough on the loco. I shall investigate in the morning.
Thanks for that.

 

[Hal Farsed]

Ahh the three I had were imported to England from Baldwins due to a strike by The Amalgamated Union of Chalk Line Tweakers meaning British built locomotion was not available. Ergo, cowcatchers not necessary.

 

[PhilP]

Ahh the three I had were imported to England from Baldwins due to a strike by The Amalgamated Union of Chalk Line Tweakers meaning British built locomotion was not available. Ergo, cowcatchers not necessary.

Wot does an 'ergo cow' look like??