Assembling Micro-Trains Couplers Question

Hardcoaler Dec 2, 2019

  1. gmorider

    gmorider TrainBoard Member

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    Wow!
     
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  2. Hardcoaler

    Hardcoaler TrainBoard Member

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    Okay, things are looking up. I mated the Life-Like FA-1 and FB-1 together with hand-assembled 1015s (which have a slightly larger mounting hole than the factory-made 1015s, so fit over the FA coupler mounting pins with ease) and they traverse my Unitrack 282mm (11.1") Radius curves without any trouble at all and they stay coupled. I put a hand-assembled 1016 on the "train end" of the B, though a 1015 would have probably been fine. I thought the 1016 might be better with heavy trains on my curves. The 1016 looks fine. The M-T coupler mounts a wee bit low, but I don't think it will be a problem.

    I continue to despise Life-Like's ridiculously tight fitting shells on these units. I did file the nubs down a bit to perhaps ease access next time. Heaven forbid I ever need to remove the shells again.:mad:
     
  3. Hardcoaler

    Hardcoaler TrainBoard Member

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    Sorry about the lousy photos (I'm too lazy this morning to set up better lighting), but here's how things turned out with the L-L FAs.

    Coupling distance using 1015s at each end:

    2019-12-05 001 FAs.jpg

    1015 on end of A (nearest) and 1016 on "train end" of B (furthest):

    2019-12-05 002 FAs.jpg

    "Train end" of B with coupler a bit too low. I'm not sure if this will be a problem, nor how I might be able to fix it. There's just no room to lift the coupler box. Maybe I can bend it upwards somehow.

    2019-12-05 003 FAs.jpg
     
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  4. Sumner

    Sumner TrainBoard Member

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    If you didn't mind always running the first car behind the loco as the same car, change the coupler height on the loco end of that car,

    Sumner
     
    Last edited: Dec 5, 2019
  5. Hardcoaler

    Hardcoaler TrainBoard Member

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    That's a good idea and that can be my fall back plan. Right now, I'm attempting to fashion a spacer from thick plastic strip to lift the coupler box as much as possible. It'll be perhaps three times thicker than the M-T spacers. Not sure if it will work, but it's worth a shot. The good news is that I can access the coupler assemblies even with the body shells in place.
     
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  6. Doug Gosha

    Doug Gosha TrainBoard Member

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    On the back of my LL E8's and E7's I installed the couplers at an angle because of the same problem (too low) and they work fine. The angle is not that noticeable.

    Doug
     
  7. Hardcoaler

    Hardcoaler TrainBoard Member

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    I completed my home-built spacer a few minutes ago. The L-L coupler still isn't quite at the proper height, but it's much better than before. I think it'll be okay now. Thanks for everyone's help with this.

    12-05-2019 L-L Coupler Height After Spacer.jpg

    2019-12-05 L-L FAs in L&NE.jpg
     
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  8. Sumner

    Sumner TrainBoard Member

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    So what exactly did you end up doing? Not sure where you put the spacer? I have some of these so appreciate the thread also,

    Sumner
     
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  9. Hardcoaler

    Hardcoaler TrainBoard Member

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    I placed it under the coupler box, basically a square-shaped piece with a hole drilled in the center. The L-L coupler holder's tiny rod pierces through both the spacer and the coupler box. It fits in where the arrow points. I'd take a picture from a different angle, but it's painted black and is nearly invisible.

    12-05-2019 001 L-L Coupler Height After Spacer.jpg
     
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  10. Sumner

    Sumner TrainBoard Member

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    Thanks, so it sounds like there was room for the coupler box to move up and the spacer made that happen?

    Sumner
     
  11. Hardcoaler

    Hardcoaler TrainBoard Member

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    Yes, it seems to have helped. My aging eyes struggle to see small things, but there was definitely space there.
     
  12. Eugen Haenseler

    Eugen Haenseler TrainBoard Member

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    the one on the left side
     
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  13. catfan

    catfan TrainBoard Member

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    Since couplers are something we probably only do once in a while..I watch this video to refresh my memory. What little there is of it. ;-)



    The actual assembly process starts at about 7:00.
     
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