Coupler Woes

[DVS4G]

So, I find the perfect coupler adapter for putting a hook and loop on my USAT 44 tonner and some fool has to go and break it! How do I find more of these. I'm cross-eyed from looking at coupler parts.

 

[Greg Elmassian]

You must be asking since you don't remember where it came from, I will assume that.

It's white plastic painted black, so that rules out Aristo and USAT, perhaps bachmann?

Greg

 

[Rhinochugger]

Most Bachmann stuff is black throughout, and the coupler parts (aside from the diecast 1:20.3 knuckles) is generally pretty flexible - it wouldn't snap like that.

The material is similar to Accucraft mouldings on their wagons, but their couplers are metal with flexible plastic buckeyes.

still a mystery

 

[Wistow vale rlwy]

Hi Dave - I am away from home at the moment so I am unable to check, but it does look like the coupler height adjustment bar made available with the Bachmann large scale Thomas the tank engine?
Regards Graham.

 

[dunnyrail]

You could try a good adhesive to fix it but looking at the size and shape it would probably not be impossible to file up a new one from a lump of brass. At least you have a master to copy.

 

[Brixham]

Possible fix.... Glue it as best you can, once it's set/dried....use a minidrill and bore through the joint at an angle, say 1mm or 16th inch. Then find a suitable pin that's a tight fit to push through with a soldering iron. I've fixed a couple of parts like this.

Malcolm

 

[JimmyB]

Possible fix.... Glue it as best you can, once it's set/dried....use a minidrill and bore through the joint at an angle, say 1mm or 16th inch. Then find a suitable pin that's a tight fit to push through with a soldering iron. I've fixed a couple of parts like this.

Malcolm

I have done the glue and pin thing, though I normally use slow setting super glue to bond the pin(s).

 

[Greg Elmassian]

It does look similar to some of the Bachmann coupler adapters, look at the TTT Percy tender. Perhaps you can find it online on the Bachmann site.

Greg

 

[Gavin Sowry]

Where are all the offers of help from the 3D printing proponents on this forum ?

Just asking.

 

[DVS4G]

And before I read all the replies, ha ha, I had glued and pinned it back together and considered cutting out one of my own from my "master". But brass had not occurred to me. I was still thinking plastic of some sort. It came out of my coupler junk box. So, no, I don't really know where it came from. The brass idea intrigues me as I have made some cool stuff out of square and round tubing and stock before. Hmm...

 

[dunnyrail]

And before I read all the replies, ha ha, I had glued and pinned it back together and considered cutting out one of my own from my "master". But brass had not occurred to me. I was still thinking plastic of some sort. It came out of my coupler junk box. So, no, I don't really know where it came from. The brass idea intrigues me as I have made some cool stuff out of square and round tubing and stock before. Hmm...

Not sure that tube would be viable too many variable joints and soldering would be a real problem with so many possible parts, even if you included silver and low melt soldering into the mix.. But filing up from a solid as I said should be eminently possible if you can find a lump of brass the right size, would an old plug pin be big enough?

 

[musket the dog]

Maybe the adapter for an LGB coupling for a Bachmann Lyn or something like that?

If there's someone Stateside with a printer that could help out, I would be happy to quickly knock up the file for you if you could post come measurements?

 

[DVS4G]

Musket, that's very generous of you. I have attached a drawing (not to scale) with measurements indicated. Hopefully good enough with the above pictures for reference also.

 

[DVS4G]

And, YES, I ignored the taper on the bottom as it seemed superfluous.

 

[Greg Elmassian]

The taper on the bottom is probably clearance for the truck (bogie) as it rotates

 

[musket the dog]

Musket, that's very generous of you. I have attached a drawing (not to scale) with measurements indicated...

Hi DVS,

The drawing's perfect, I'll jump on it this afternoon after work

 

[musket the dog]

I've added a link to download the file into the resources section as STL files can't be sent directly via private message.

Coupling Adapter

If you can't find anyone to print it I could also put it up on Shapeways, I think their prices have gone up a little lately but the stuff that comes is usually very good quality and quite strong Let us know how you get on.

 

[Gavin Sowry]

Where are all the offers of help from the 3D printing proponents on this forum ?

Just asking.

My faith in the 3D fraternity has been restored. Good team effort there guys.

 

[DVS4G]

Thanks Ricky, I'll check it out and let you know how it goes.
Dave