Problem With Trainworx 100 Ton Hopper Couplers?

[Kisatchie]

I have about 5 dozen Trainworx 100 ton hoppers. When I assembled them from kits many years ago, I believe they suggested using Micro-trains couplers cut from MTL trucks to body-mount on the cars. So that's what I did.

However, I'm trying to figure out a minimum radius to use on my temporary layout (until I build my dream layout), and since the MTL coupler box is so wide, it seems I'd need a very large radius to accommodate them. I thought about perhaps substituting MTL's 1025 couplers, but they definitely won't fit without major surgery, and then I couldn't be sure they'd operate properly.

Does anyone here use body-mounted MTL coupler boxes cut from the trucks on some of your freight cars, and if so, what's your minimum radius for them?

One can hope....


Hmm... I'm guessing 8
or 9 feet...

[bill pearce]

I used a lot of these, as they were already paid for. Whne I had a layout, I had no troubles with them down to about 12". I know there are limits, but that has more to do with how far the trick center is away from the end than the size of the box. With larger boxcars, where the truck mount is farther from the end, you need the coupler shank to move more than the box will allow. I suppose that the small radius adapters for body mounting included from Bluford Shops account for that. What I'm trying to say is simple...if you have sensible radiuses, don't worry. If you insist on streecar track radiuses, then forget it and go to Z scale.

[davefoxx]

I cut the couplers off of the trucks on my Red Caboose 62' insulated boxcars (Tropicana Juice Train!) and body-mounted them.  That coupler box doesn't look the greatest mounted in that manner, but these cars will run on curves as sharp as at least 10" radii.

DFF

[Kisatchie]

Thanks for the encouraging words.


Hmm... especially
since Kiz has sworn off
changing couplers for at
least a year, and I would
have to change all the
couplers out...

[nkalanaga]

I have the Trainworx hoppers with 1025 couplers.  The draft gear can be shortened enough to fit and the coupler will still work.  Getting it on the car without having the case come apart can be tricky, but they will fit.  I trimmed the body bolster for clearance, as well as the back of the box, and everything fit - barely.  I also used MDC trucks, which don't have MT's offset bolster hole, and had to grind clearance notches in the slope sheets for the wheels, but again, they work, and the holes don't go all the way through the floor.