Well, I had my first experience last night starting to assemble MTL 2004 couplers to be used with my Kato SD40-2 engines. From preparing the componets to final assemly on the first coupler was 2 hours . That tiny spring just didn't want to stay at home. Finally, by the end, understood the technique . I actually look forward to finishing the first pair. Then the mounting in the engines. Will be my first time to remove the shell. Just have to bite the bullet and learn how it is done. Keep seeing this grand engine in my minds eye flying out of my hands and landing on the shop floor ! Understand that MTL has the assembled coupler version, 2004-1, out now but that would be to easy. [This message has been edited by Patrick (edited 02 June 2000).]
I use a hot knife blade in my soldering iron to "Tack" the coupler housing together after assembly. Then I just trim it square again with an exacto. I bought the assembled ones once and noticed that microtraines does the same thing. I build them all up at once so I dont have to fiddle with them later. ------------------ Robert Ray The NP & UP N-Scale Railroad
The hot knife blade sounds good. I used a small wattage soldering tip in my Ungar and it went OK, not quite as smooth as I would have liked though. I do have a hot knife for cutting poly Dacron and I wonder if it may do a better job since it has a wide flat area. I'll heat it up and try it on some of the sprue . ------------------ Residing in BNSF's St. Croix Subdivision near Trempealeau, WI [This message has been edited by Patrick (edited 02 June 2000).]
The boxes on the latest M/T couplers I have used just snaps together, and stays put. Perhaps the ones you used were not the latest production? Just guessing ------------------ Alan The perfect combination - BNSF and N Scale! www.ac-models.com Andersley Western Railroad Alan's American Gallery Alan's European Gallery Alan's British Steam Gallery
Do you recall the item number? ------------------ Residing in BNSF's St. Croix Subdivision near Trempealeau, WI
The couplers kits I had were pretty dusty when I bought them. Safe bet I had the old ones, but I hope I get the snap togethers ones next time.
I got some 2004's recently, to fit on my SD40-2's, but have not yet had time to fit them. The ones I had with snap-together boxes were 1015. ------------------ Alan The perfect combination - BNSF and N Scale! www.ac-models.com Andersley Western Railroad Alan's American Gallery Alan's European Gallery Alan's British Steam Gallery
Follow up on the assembly of the 2004 couplers for my SD40-2's. After pray59's message about using his hot knife blade I dug through my tool box and I found my old hot knife that I remembered that I had. It works much better sealing the gear box lid than the soldering tip. After mounting the couplers in two engines and setting the trip pins to height it was very interesting to see how slow you could go and get a good couple to the MTL rolling stock. It was a good experience for me in learning how to remove a shell from a frame and then learn that I did not need to remove a shell to remove the coulper keeper for inserting the 2004's . Anyway, thanks for all the input. Have some more engines to change out now, but look forward to it. My assembly time has been shorten considerable . P.S. Thanks Alan for the 1015 item number. I had bought some 1015's, still in the package, when I found out about the 2004's. I'll take a look at the 1015's now and check the difference against the 2004's. ------------------ Residing in BNSF's St. Croix Subdivision near Trempealeau, WI [This message has been edited by Patrick (edited 06 June 2000).]
Thoughts on Micro-Trains couplers. 1) Slip a small thread thru the spring before you put it in the box. Loop the thread around and tie it in a knot. This will keep the spring from flying away. When you have the spring installed in the box, cut the thread and pull it out SLOWLY. 2) Grease your couplers when you put them together. Use MT Grease'Em which is powdered graphite. Don't use grease, oil, or WD-40 these will actually draw dirt into themselves and gum up the coupler box. 3) Get a Micro-Trains coupler gauge to check coupler height. Get all your couplers at the right height so they all work together smoothly. If they are adjusted to the right height one coupler won't pull apart from another because of a difference in height.(This generally happens at the BIG TRAIN SHOW, where you are wanting to show off that new 4 engine lashup you have detailed to the max, and the #@**%+* things won't stay coupled together!) ------------------ Let's Go Run Trains MARK
Thanks for the pointers Mark. I did use MTL's powdered graphite, which came in a kit put together by MTL, that included a number of items and information that all helps in setting up their couplers and trucks . I like their products. ------------------ Residing in BNSF's St. Croix Subdivision near Trempealeau, WI
Patrick, I do use 2004 couplers on locomotives for which they are recommended, e.g. C44 and SD40-2, but use the 1015 as standard for most others. BTW, the new ones are called 1015 RDA (RDA stands for reverse draft angle - I think) they are supposed to stay coupled more effectively. MT couplers are great for switching, aren't they ------------------ Alan The perfect combination - BNSF and N Scale! www.ac-models.com Andersley Western Railroad Alan's American Gallery Alan's European Gallery Alan's British Steam Gallery
Being a painter, I paint a TON of C44's, therefor, I put together a TON of MT #2004's. That's right! They DONT have the snap together lid!!! I put them together, hold the two halfs in place after they are done and then imidietly put them in the locomotive. One trick you guys might want to use to hold a completed, ready to be soldered together coupler is put a rubber band around the "nose" of some small pliars you have so that they stay shut and they will hold the coupler in tightly and will not let go. Good luck! ------------------ Craig Martyn BLMA(best looking models around) Custom painting and detailing
Buy them already built!! Happy Railroading! from the lazy Dane N. ------------------ TAMR2860-AKA BC Rail King TAMR2860@Canada.com for TAMR info. To send a general TRAIN! E-Mail send to BCRailKing@Canada.com Do you have AIM? I do! IM me at TAMR2860 if ya wanna talk Trains
