Which couplers for MTL FT units

[bc6]

Im looking for couplers for my MTL FT units and was curious which MTL couplers should I get. My second question is can I couple the A&B units instead of using the drawbar, how do I go about that.

[billvassar45]

what i would do is call MTL directly the can tell what coupler to use and more then likely sell them to you.

[davefoxx]

I would imagine, especially with the minimal carbody overhang in the FT bodies between the A and B units, that squeezing couplers in there without increasing the distance between the units will be very difficult.  I would recommend trying Unimates (now produced by Red Caboose), which, admittedly, are NOT automatic couplers.  However, they do couple well, and since you will be unlikely doing a lot of coupling/uncoupling between the units, they would probably work okay.

http://www.modeltrainstuff.com/Red-Caboose-N-51060-Knuckle-Coupler-HOn3-N-body-mo-p/red-51060.htm

Here's where I installed them between two FP7s and significantly cut the gap between the carbodies.  Darn close to prototype distance.  As I said, this will be even harder with the FTs.




Hope this helps,
Dave Foxx

[peteski]

Bc6: I'm puzzled by your fist question.  The locomotive you asking about *WAS* manufactured by MTL so it came equipped with ...  MTL couplers!  Do you have one of those models and it doesn't have MTL couplers?

To answer your question,  looking at my units, the B unit uses a short T-shank coupler (MT7, like ones used in kit #1161) but it is housed in a non-standard coupler pocket which is also part of the model's lower frame.  In front of the A unit the coupler looks like #2001.

As far as replacing the drawbar with couplers, that should be doable using the complete coupler assemblies which are used on the rear of the B unit as they look like they will be a direct replacement for the drawbar unit.  If you contact MTL, they will most likely sell those to you as spare parts (assuming they still have any left).  But why? FT A and B units in real life were pretty much permanently coupled.

[bbussey]

Agreed.  Why would one wish to replace the drawbar between the A and B units when the prototype was coupled the same way?  InterMountain FTs also have a drawbar between the A and B units.

That said, MTL does have a provision for a coupler on the back of the A unit, as they use single units in their fantasy sets.  So the best option, as someone stated up thread, is to contact MTL directly and ask them.

[FrankCampagna]

Some FT's came with couplers instead of drawbars. Some had the drawbar replaced with couplers later.

Frank

[peteski]

As I mentioned earlier, the drawbar and coupler mounts are interchangeable on the rear of the A unit and on both ends of the B unit.