i have come to the point where im putting coulpers on my locos that i have detailed, but i dont really like the fact of putting 903's on them does it really matter on what i put on them ?? thanks Ashley
903's are Z scale couplers that you have to put together. 905's are the same coupler already assembled. 1015 is what goes on most Atlas diesels.
I think the Z scale 903/905's look better, but, 1015 and other N scale couplers are better for operations(switching etc...). Especially uncoupling equipment. Gives a bigger target to aim the pick at. Even more so if you've had a few drinks:tb-wink: Bottom line... It's a toss up... What ever you feel works best for you... :beer2:
i ment i have detailed all of my locos so what should i put on then the more scale couples (903/905) or the oversized (1015) ones ??
Do you care about how realistically the loco appear? [ ] Yes. [ ] No. Do you care about operating (frequently coupling and uncoupling actions) the loco? [ ] Yes. [ ] No. If you answered No to both questions, there are 2 more options: 1. I totally failed in writing questions or 2. You better stop modeling If you answered Yes to both questions, or you answered No the first question and Yes to the second one, you probably want to install the 1015. If you answered Yes to question 1 and No to question 2, go for the 903/905. p.s. do not write on your screen!
903/5's... When you gauge them, adjust the height so the bottom of the coupler matches the bottom of the "N" scale ones. This will nearly eliminate undesired uncouplings when coupled to standard "N" scale couplers.
You should line up the Z couplers with the center of the N scale ones, right along the mold parting line. I mix them all the time with no problem.
I'm in agreement with Chris centerline the coupler faces usually an .010 shim IIRC for a standard 1015 coupler pocket. T
The 903/905's are a pain to work with and get just right. The box for them is quite a bit longer than the 1015's, so reusing the plastic clip (ie. Kato) will make them stick out the back too far and hit the truck. I've had to file down the rear of the 903 box and some of the truck on my SD40/45/40-2's for them to fit and look right, and then just glue them in place. On most Atlas locos you can reuse the screw and they line up pretty good. You can also use the top of the old Accumate coupler box for a shim on top, and the coupler comes out at pretty much the correct height. For me, I won't go back to the 1015's on my locos since I love the look of the smaller couplers. But I'd get a pack of the 903/905's and do a little operation on the track you already have laid and see if you like/hate them. -Mike
The instructions included with the 903 couplers show you how to cut the back of the box off for extra clearance. PS Z scale couplers are still larger than the prototype when used in N scale. Something to think about. I would have all Z scale couplers if I had a choice, but I'm not going to convert every car I own. Probably 8% of what I own has Z scale couplers. That number will grow, but not to 100%.
As said on TB before, if MTL made a Z size coupler to use on diesels instead of the 1015 I'd buy a bunch of them. Surely there's a market for a larger range of Z couplers, not just for us but for the Z scalers as well.
I will go with Joe on this one. I have been using Z scale couplers for many years on my locos and did a lot of reseach on the height of the Z coupler in relation to the Nscale coupler. If mounted on the center line the Zscale will pull right over the top of the N coupler on long trains (40 to 60) cars on a 2% grade.
I learned the trick from Jim. He has a lot of experience with N scale and I trust his advice. Also, Z scale couplers have a higher vertical play to size ratio. With normal mounting, they sometimes droop a little and only get higher as the stress increases.
I've been using MT Z scale #905 couplers for 4-5 years on my steam loco's,tenders,diesels and rolling stock. They mate well with N scale couplers once you learn how to body mount them.
I've had this happen quite a few times when I first started mounting the 903's on my locos and it would always happen on the helix. =( -Mike
I installed 905's couplers on about 45 Athearn Twin Tub coal cars. I wanted to install MT 1023's but they stuck out too far. The 905's are perfect as far as the distance between the cars. but I keep haveing random uncoupling problems and not the same cars either. Micro train does not have a good coupler that is short enough to body mount on this type of car,what we need is an extremely short version of the 1023 but I doubt if we will ever see them make one, anyone have any ideas???????? gene
I've used 905's on my Athearn Coalporters for the same reason, the truck mounted accumates leave enough room between cars to drive a truck through. With a bit of tweaking to make sure the couplers are centred and the correct height I can run the 30 cars round the club's Ntrak layout without trouble.
The passenger car couplers will not work, I tried them, if you cut them off to fit the car so they will not stick out then the front axle on the truck hits the coupler. These couplers are too thick and by the way the last I heard from Microtrains was that you could order the passenger couplers only by special order. If memory serves me correctly, the 1021's? I think are short enough to fit these cars but are a bear to put together. gene maddox
