For those who are unaware: the BLI coupler is a hybrid combination of the MTL 1015 knuckle with the Accu-Mate internals. The insides are not 100% Accu-Mate but nearly so. Thus, the coupler doesn’t have the MTL centering nubs. It would be nice if they offered their coupler as a separate item as it would provide MTL operational behavior in the coupler boxes of other manufacturers without the oscillation issues.
Or, as mentioned, the cavities for the MTL nubs could be cut into the BLI boxes and then 1015s could be swapped in.
McHenrys as well as the Bachmann knuckles are noticeably larger than the MTL couplers and clones, so they aren’t a preferred option. I always swap out McHenry and Bachmann couplers. Accu-Mates fit in a pinch.
BLI seems to be schizophrenic as far as their N scale couplers go.
I was under the impression that the BLI's most current coupler is based on the RMR (Vlk) Coupler knuckle. This was discussed discussed in
https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=51455.0 . It appears that BLI Mikado uses RMR-style coupler. The parts diagram for P5a also shows what looks like the RMR-style coupler (but it is not a guarantee that the model actually has it).
Older locos have different couplers. My BLI E7A, Centipede, and T1 Duplex all have MTL couplers installed. They all even have that gold seal on the jewel box stating that they are equipped with MTL couplers. Well, actually the E7A's front coupler is a very stiff MTL clone (with the trip pin removed), but the rear coupler is MTL. Those are the only BLI locos I own.
As far as the rolling stock goes, I own a cryo car, and the PRR coach. Both have couples like Bryan described: The coupler's head has MTL surface features, but the overall shape is more angular, like an Accu-Mate. And of course the shank and (stiff plastic) springs are similar to Accu-Mate.
Hard to keep track of all the variants. . .
