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Installing Atlas 2 part couplers in DCC GP38-2 Locos and rolling stock
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Regular poster 388 posts Brad Ketchen OSCR Regular poster 388 posts
Brad Ketchen OSCR

Hello,

Atlas were nice enough to send me a replacement truck assembly for my new Trainman DCC GP38-2..unfortunately the rear truck was spinning.. Anyway in my trial and error of disassembling the body, which was no problem except for the mini tooled in screws under the fuel tank holding the chassis to the weight, I dremeled them out..voila problem solved. Locomotive runs as it should.

But now...I am face with reinstalling those two part couplers..which i've fiddle around with for hours... anyone have any expertise or quick tips how to do so? Looks to me I install them with the shell back on to no avail.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thank you,
Brad. 

 

 

Ontario South Central Railway, Toronto, Canada. 
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Mark R. Regular poster 293 posts
Mark R.

One word .... Kadee.    Mark.

One word .... Kadee. 

Mark.
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Nick Santo amsnick MRH Advertiser and MRH Author 2,817 posts
Nick Santo amsnick

Been there, done that.

Hi Brad,

Just had two Atlas locomotives disassembled for lights.  Reassembled with Details West plows on front.  Learned a long time ago that Kaydee couplers were my friends.  The new plow requires that the longer shanked coupler be used so that reliable coupling can be achieved.  

Turn the locomotives on their sides and firmly squeeze the shell and metal chassis at the wheel sets together and the assembled draft gear (coupler box) slides right in easily.  The detail that you should be aware of is that the lift bar will usually get caught on the draft gear. This will not allow the draft gear to seat properly and pinch the lift bar between the draft gear and the pilot.  Just not correct.  I get the draft gear box started in the rectangular hole, lift the rounded lift bar with a toothpick then I slide the draft gear box home.  

In either case, Accumate or Kaydee, with the locomotive on its side assemble the draft gear box and pinch it together with your fingers of your dexterous hand then pinch the shell together with your fingers on the other hand and get the box started.  

I got extra practice when I discovered that I placed the wrong color coupler boxes on each of the locomotives!  Practice will get you to a procedure.  

By the way the whisker couplers are easier than the copper spring ones.

Hope this helps.

Nick

Nick

https://nixtrainz.com/ Home of the Decoder Buddy

Full disclosure: I am the inventor of the Decoder Buddy and I sell it via the link above.
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Brad Ketchen OSCR Regular poster 388 posts
Brad Ketchen OSCR

Kadee

Thank you Mark and Nick... 

I forgot to mention.. yes I am going to go the Kadee route as I have some shelved older locomotives and cars that I take from. I'll give it a go again today... maybe yesterday I was a bit of! Anyway..I need to get this done so my customers can be served!! 

thank for the advice,

as always,

Brad

 

Ontario South Central Railway, Toronto, Canada. 
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Mark R. Regular poster 293 posts
Mark R.

First Thing ....

.... I do whenever an Atlas car or engine arrives on my bench is remove and toss those two-piece couplers. Even when I do work on client's engines - even a decoder install - I'll replace them with Kadee couplers just as a kind gesture. Really wish Atlas would get on the Kadee wagon along with other manufacturers - those two-piece couplers are a waste of plastic.

Mark.
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jimfitch Prolific poster 5,288 posts
jimfitch

But now...I am face with

Quote:

But now...I am face with reinstalling those two part couplers..which i've fiddle around with for hours... anyone have any expertise or quick tips how to do so? Looks to me I install them with the shell back on to no avail.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thank you,
Brad. 

Quick tip - toss those two piece Accumate couplers in the trash. 

Others have already given the "no brainer" answer - Kadee for sure.

.

Jim Fitch
northern VA
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