Micro-Trains Coupler Swap

Finally getting rid of the old Rapido couplers on my rolling stock!
In my case, I went with Micro-Trains 00310022 - Bettendorf Trucks With Medium Extension Couplers (1003-10) 10 pair
Micro-Trains N scale Couplers at Midwest Model Railroad:
midwestmodelrr...
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[@randyc8171]

I drill them a bit to get semi close and then use an X-Acto knife to scrape he hole large enough. It works fine.

[@s40er]

I've always just used a razor saw and have sawed the post off then just used MT post into the remaining hole.

[@RoyEltham]

I've been doing a lot of this exact same thing lately. Including the scary drilling out of some of them. For that caboose case, they do make conversion couplers where you can take off the retaining plate for the old coupler pop out the old coupler and spring and then stuff in an MTL set of bits, but it's super fiddly and you need little helper tools. I think your approach of filing down a spot and attaching a built body mount coupler is easier.

[@brianpagemodeltrains]

Thanks for watching Roy. Yeah, I think I'm going to flatten that area, and try the body mount coupler.

[@SFCRambo60]

Ron'sTrains and things has a bunch of setting up couplers. They do sell 3 different lengths of couplers from Micro-Train Couplers. I have cut the Rapido couplers off and glued shims onto the body and drilled and tapped out the holes for the new couplers. Now, I suggest to dry fit everything before gluing to get the coupler height and make sure you give the glue plenty of time to setup or you're going to hate yourself if the glue gets into the coupler. It has cost me a coupleof couplers.

[@brianpagemodeltrains]

That's why I decided to just swap out the entire truck assembly - That way, I don't have to worry about those things, as long as I get some varying coupler lengths.

[@michaelzalewski2532]

for the caboose try long shank couplers for 89 foot flats if you dont want body mount

[@brianpagemodeltrains]

They're all taken care of now, but thanks!

[@daneisenhower4346]

I've been fooling with trucks & couplers all day. I'm was getting too frustrated (old stock and small parts) I had one in particular that vexed me. I finally came to a satisfying conclusion. I threw it away!

[@brianpagemodeltrains]

I can understand completely, especially if you're working on N scale!

[@ModelTrainOutsider]

Excellent work, Brian! Nice humor and well done, even with the uncertainties.

[@brianpagemodeltrains]

Yes sir, there is some uncertainty because when I first started model railroading in 1978, a lot of these options weren't available, so now I'm relearning everything it seems. Thanks!

[@jasonmyers9026]

Thanks for the glasses link!

[@brianpagemodeltrains]

You're welcome - Thanks for watching!

[@lvl800elite]

Late to the party, I did 4 of my grain cars. I just used a Dremel shim down the post.

[@brianpagemodeltrains]

Cool idea!

[@joshroten3997]

Re: caboose - have you looked into swapping the trucks out for MT medium or long shaft coupler trucks? Medium would work is my guess.

[@davebnsfnscale4433]

Round file works,magnetic screwdrivers are handy for those small screws

[@brianpagemodeltrains]

I wish I had thought of that...

[@mgamga9476]

I was going to say Round file. Magnetic screwdriver. LOL. You beat me to it. Great advise

[@BoxcarJerry]

Nice job Brian , I haven't come across the peg style on any of the rolling stock i have been converting over . I have an old caboose from a set like that , I have no intentions of swapping out the coupler but I think your on the right path with the body mount design . I just looked at the 1003-10's and man they went up $10 in a year . It cost about $12 per car to convert now .

[@brianpagemodeltrains]

True Jerry. Swapping out a fleet is not for the faint of heart, financially speaking anyway.

[@js-oy3td]

just file the fitting on the rolling stock, it's easier and you don't have to worry about ruining the more expensive trucks. I just did this yesterday myself. It was a bit of work but much easier than what you're doing.

[@brianpagemodeltrains]

That would have worked also. Turns out I was worried for nothing. The truck plastic was semi-soft, so it didn't crack, and that was my main concern.

[@tedfisk1211]

You might look into the MTL 1038 to attach to the caboose.

[@brianpagemodeltrains]

Got it all sorted out, but thanks!

[@dustydean56]

The first 30 seconds of your video got a like from me ! Who did talk me into something I can't hardly see through bifocals?? Me .....

[@brianpagemodeltrains]

Yep - Thanks for watching!

[@BritishRail60062]

Great video. I am coming back into N scale myself as I am now going to use the Hunts Magnetic Couplers from West Hill Wagon Works (A UK company) that makes better replacements than the rapido couplers that was a nightmare for me back in 2009-2012. But I am going to try N gauge again after being priced out of the OO scale model trains with no thanks to Hornby and Bachmann. Not sure if you have heard of Graham Farish N scale? But I have just bought two Class 60 Diesel Locomotives that I am going to add a SoundTraxx Tsunami sound into. I also have a Revolution Trains Class 92 Electric Locomotive which is also a nice model train. I will be covering these on my channel later this month once I have the test track all set to use :). All the best Ash.

[@brianpagemodeltrains]

I have not heard of those, but it sounds like a great system. Welcome back to N scale!

[@BritishRail60062]

@@brianpagemodeltrains Thank you. If you are interested in the N Scale Class 60 model. I have done a review of this model on my channel and I have a tutorial coming tomorrow morning at 11am UK time of how to add a SoundTraxx Tsunami Next18 decoder and its very easy to do as Bachmann has already included the speaker ready to go. Please keep up the great videos buddy.

[@wykedinsanity]

hey im older, blind in one eye and i now have n scale because im not alloweed to take up more than half the basement, i got magnifier head set tho i had to buy two, the first didnt fit my head

[@brianpagemodeltrains]

I have some 4x readers that get me by with N scale pretty well.

[@davebnsfnscale4433]

Like the googles,1015 likely will work for the caboose

[@brianpagemodeltrains]

Thanks Dave, had fun doing that one!

[@bb-ov3pi]

try to remove the metal plate holding in the rapideo and replace it with micro-trains or Kadee couplers.

[@brianpagemodeltrains]

That's one possibility, but I just didn't want to get that deep into it. Everything turned out ok.

[@davidf9630]

Nice video and very informative. I was able to find a great deal online and picked up 29 rolling stock cars and 6 locomotives. Most of the rolling stock has older couplers and I’m gonna swap them out, so I’ll be able to use magnetic coupling on my layout. I’m not afraid of sacrificing a caboose or two to help with your truck issues. You seem to be pretty handy with your power tools. Did you ever think of moving the trucks closer to the edge of the car? Maybe drilling out a new mount hole and shimming it up?

[@brianpagemodeltrains]

I thought about that, but in the end, it turned out ok.

[@davidf9630]

Your channel looks very interesting... I think I’m gonna jump on board 🚂

[@brianpagemodeltrains]

@@davidf9630 Thanks, David!

[@hhc19avn]

Nice video but the title is a just a bit misleading. What you did was a complete truck conversion, not a coupler conversion. Have you or anyone else who has watched or commented done a conversion of just the couplers on either a Bachmann, Con-Cor or any other Rapido equipped truck? I have a good number of these trucks that roll and track just fine. It is the couplers that are constantly separating. Thanks for any assistance.

[@brianpagemodeltrains]

That's true, I swapped out the old Rapido trucks. Unfortunately, my Rapido trucks were metal banded, and the couplers themselves could not be taken out. I have another video where I swapped just the couplers on a locomotive, that's the closest I have to just a coupler swap.

[@antoonschotman8887]

Do you still have the Rapido parts? I’m in need of a few for my N scale european locomotive and rail cars.

[@brianpagemodeltrains]

I do have some, but I might be using them for my second level layout machines.

[@FBMRR]

Great video dude. I am going to make a small Nscale layout and i got some old cars from Jerry. So this video will help. Sorry i cant help with the caboose. But i gotta know, where do i get those glasses?

[@brianpagemodeltrains]

Thanks for watching, Rick! Aren't those glasses hilarious? I didn't realize how funny they looked until I saw myself in the video. I added a link in the description to the glasses, www.amazon.com/gp/product/B076Q22RHW/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 I have to warn you though, for practical usage, they are not my favorite thing. The company says to use only one lens over one eye at a time, so I put two different strengths on each side, and use one at a time.

[@dahigson]

Hi Brian. Sorry if I missed reference to it in your video, but did you choose not to use the metal wheels from your rapido couplers because you prefer plastic wheels? Thanks.... new subscriber, love the close-up camera work so we can see the detail. Darrell (New Zealand)

[@brianpagemodeltrains]

Hi Darrell - No, I'm just cheap! I found that the plastic wheels on Micro-Trains trucks roll extremely well, so I'm just leaving them on. Many people prefer metal wheels, but I don't have a strong preference.

[@SD45-ET44AC]

Thanks Brian, I was curious of you choice of wheel sets as well, but from a different perspective. You, “Brian”, commented that you thought everyone knew how to change out trucks, but honestly that is about to change as I’m building my 1st “N” Scale-layout, much smaller, and I’m already dealing with wheel sets and couplers. I was an “O” scale modeler but had enough rolling stock that fixing anything was on the back burner.

[@tommythomason6187]

Do you know if old N-scale Life-Like engines from the late 80s/early 90s can be converted to knuckle couplers? It can be done with old Bachmann locomotives, and I'd really like to purchase some of those good running GP38-2s Life-Like sold back then - but not if a conversion can't be done.

[@brianpagemodeltrains]

Sorry, I have never owned any Life-Like equipment, I don't know how they were put together.

[@kevincollier4147]

Maybe try passenger car trucks for the caboose?

[@brianpagemodeltrains]

That's a good idea. In the end, it turned out ok.

[@michaelstump6289]

What part number trucks are you using?

[@brianpagemodeltrains]

I ordered these mainly - Micro-Trains 00310022 - Bettendorf Trucks With Medium Extension Couplers (1003-10) 10 pair. Hope that helps!

[@edmijares1011]

finding a lot of mine are too rocky. Did you encounter that with your retrofits. too much wobble?

[@brianpagemodeltrains]

Actually, I don't have any more wobble than before.

[@elleryparsons5766]

I haven’t tried it yet I am running what I have Got Don’t Know when I’ll Do that.

[@brianpagemodeltrains]

If you can make everything work together the way you have it, it's a lot cheaper! But I wanted my engines and rolling stock all with the MTL couplers.

[@tudrow6087]

I am wondering what made you go with the plastic wheels instead of the metal ones?

[@brianpagemodeltrains]

The MTL trucks I bought all came with plastic wheel sets, and they roll really well, ultra smooth, so I decided not to mess with success!

[@tudrow6087]

@@brianpagemodeltrains Cool thanks.

[@davidergle9320]

What is a micro train?

[@brianpagemodeltrains]

Micro-Trains is a brand - Check them out at www.micro-trains.com.

[@GGGG-bf1ex]

Would you sell me the Rapido couplers?

[@brianpagemodeltrains]

I'm not sure what I'm going to do with them yet...

[@richharris9489]

I cant see this stuff lol

[@brianpagemodeltrains]

Yeah, I try to put a little humor in, somtimes it works...