New trucks and couplers for old Bachmann boxcars?

[R. L.]

A few weeks ago I bought 3 old Bachmann rolling stock, two are 51' Box cars and one is a 51' Reefer.
The couplers did not properly connect with my new cars (there was an angled tip sticking out to the left of each coupler preventing it from working with the new rolling stock that I have) so I figured I'd just change out the couplers...wrong.
The hole in the old couplers is smaller than the hole in all the new couplers I have seen available. The hole I'm talking about is the hole the screw goes in to hold the coupler in place. So when I got the new couplers home and tried to mount them, the screw (head) is too small and the coupler just falls off.

I hope I'm not being to confusing here, lol. There is no info on the boxes that tells me what these old couplers are so I can't really say what I have here.
Just wondering if anyone has had this experience and if so, is there such a truck available that will work on these old cars?

I made the couplers work by cutting the angled piece of them off that was keeping them from working with the new couplers, but I really would like to get some nice metal wheel trucks and couplers that would work....(properly) if not, no great loss. I bought them for $3.00 ea.

I know this post is a chore in itself just to read but,.....just checking, and hoping someone has run in to this before.

[Ironhorseman]

Years ago, (many years ago!) I had a similar problem with a couple of Varney cars / trucks. I bought some small fiber washers to keep the screw in place. Just cant screw it down too tight though. Hope this helps.

[R. L.]

Thanks Ironhorseman.

Those must be some thin washers!

Now where do you find such an animal? Hardware store?...I'll figure something out.

Now for the trucks...the old ones are plastic and they just snap into place through a hole in the bottom of the car. Wonder if I could get some nice trucks and just glue them in place?

I may end up spending less if I just order some new rolling stock and leave the old cars on a side track for looks....I hate to just throw them away.

[R. L.]

Hey Ironhorseman, just lettin you know my problem is solved!

I fabricated washers from a Miracle Whip jar and voila, works perfect. The couplers are the right height and they swivel freely.

Yeeeeeeeehaw.........got three cars going with no money spent except for the new couplers. I just love the simple things in life, lol.

Thanks again for the idea!

[Ironhorseman]

I just remembered to come back in and check on you, R.L. Glad to have helped in a small way.
To answer your earlier question about where I found the fiber washers, I believe it was at my LHS. They came in a small plastic box. As a matter of fact, I may still have some of them stuffed away, somewhere.