Bachman Steam Front Pilot working coupler options

[joelm]

Hi All: Has anyone figured out how to swap out the non-working front couplers on the Bachmann Consolidations, Light or Heavy Mountains for working MT or other couplers?
Hoping for: 1) Discovery of correct MT pilot / coupler; 2) 3-D printed option; 3) Instructions from one of you steam locomotive gents. I would use MT Z as a an alternative also.
Thanks, Joel

[nkalanaga]

The easiest way MIGHT be to install a McHenry.  Since the knuckle itself is sprung, the coupler doesn't really need a draft gear.  Drill a hole through the shank and pin it in place.

Note that I haven't tried this, as my BN doesn't have many steam locos!  But I have seen the same thing done with KD #5s in HO, years ago, and the coupler design is the basically the same.

[djconway]

What I have done:
1 - Pull the existing coupler.
2 - Enlarge the hole with a square file. Go slow test / check the opening often. To keep the hole square and don't make it too large.
3 - Install a Micro Trains 1015 or a 902.  The 902 looks better but the 1015 works better.

[jbcz]

I did a simple conversion when I got my Bachman Consolidations in 2003 using a Micro-Trains 1043-1 coupler conversion.  It replaces the entire pilot and provides a working coupler.  It has worked well for 20 years.  I am not sure if these conversion kits are still around but they are a simple substitution with a little filing.

[Hedron]

I did a simple conversion when I got my Bachman Consolidations in 2003 using a Micro-Trains 1043-1 coupler conversion.  It replaces the entire pilot and provides a working coupler.  It has worked well for 20 years.  I am not sure if these conversion kits are still around but they are a simple substitution with a little filing.

Still available, I see them in stock (but only 1 pack in stock) at modeltrainstuff, for example.

[joelm]

Thanks, Gents. Just the kind of info I was hoping for! Joel

[squirrelhunter]

What I have done:
1 - Pull the existing coupler.
2 - Enlarge the hole with a square file. Go slow test / check the opening often. To keep the hole square and don't make it too large.
3 - Install a Micro Trains 1015 or a 902.  The 902 looks better but the 1015 works better.

I did this method with a 1015 on a 4-8-2. One of the curves on my layout is a little tight, so I filed down the back corners of the coupler box to keep the lead truck from hitting the box and derailing.