N scale truck & couplers 101 for new model railroaders

In this video I talk about n scale trucks and couplers.

[@craytum6945]

Excellent Intel for someone who has been out of the hobby for 60 years and wanting to jump into N scale due to space constraints. Thank you.

[@cinluvsart]

You’re welcome glad my video was informative.

[@rjedge54]

Another excellent and helpful video. I have 6 grain hoppers that have stubborn "hook" couplers that I want to convert to Micro Trains and now know what to buy and how to install them. Being new to the hobby and N scale, this was very helpful. Thanks.

[@jetsr4real]

Thanks for your time to do this vid. As a fairly new beginner I've found couplers to be the most confusing of everything!

[@bkdexter79]

I agree with you on that. My Kato trains seem to have a lousy coupler design...they uncouple at will. The MTL couplers seem to be the best choice, so I'm researching how to retrofit the Kato lines with the MTL couplers. I detect a serious learning curve...but it's still fun to do!

[@thomaso5176]

I am new to N Scale, just starting out. Appreciate the tips. Just saved me some money!

[@cinluvsart]

Welcome to the hobby. If you have any questions about the hobby feel free to contact me. thanks for watching.

[@elleryparsons5766]

Watching Video Like This Makes A lot of Cense and Also Helps N Scalers New and Old School. I run Ho and N Scale So Far I Love Both Scales If I Didn’t Like Trains I Would Be Lost.

[@SD45-ET44AC]

If no one else says so, yes, this information is extremely helpful. Thank you!

[@cinluvsart]

Your welcome and thanks for and along with leaving a comment.

[@leonaddison9823]

You were very clear and informative. You made me feel confident I can replace my trucks and couplers.Thanks !!!

[@skipduld8948]

i saw this vid couple yrs ago , i went with micro trains couplers . all my cars r bachmann so there all the same. tks for this

[@cinluvsart]

Your welcome I glad my video could help you

[@alienstock]

Helpful, new to N scale Thank you

[@cinluvsart]

Thank you for watching. Glad my video was helpful.

[@jurigelato4366]

For me the MTL 1035 with 33 inch low profile wheels is the standard on everything that it fits on. As I don't use the trip pin I remove it to further gain reliability. Other stuff I prefer body mount. As my curves are all 13 inch minimum radius this works for me.

[@dacuzzz]

hi Art.. awesome tutorial.. thanks for sharing & i think it will help the newbies...vinny

[@cinluvsart]

+bnsf6951 Thanks Vinny

[@RobW-bz7ib]

Great info!! Thank you!!

[@cinluvsart]

Glad I could help

[@elleryparsons5766]

Love the Video.

[@cinluvsart]

Thank you for the comment

[@yonbear1]

Just starting in the hobby at 70. Thanks for the demo, I feel much more confident now buying cars knowing that converting them is reasonably simple.

[@cinluvsart]

Welcome to the hobby. You will find very addictive lol

[@nscalefun]

AWESOME!!!! Keep up the good work.

[@SFCRambo60]

Nice video, but if you ever do another one, could you please disconnect the trucks and lay the trucks and couplers down so the camera can get in focus. Thank you and keep it up.

[@aztraingranny7015]

Wow, Art! This was a great video - very helpful! Took the mystery out. I think I can do one of these. (Uh oh, hope Vinny doesn't read this LOL) . . . Diana

[@dacuzzz]

+AZTrainGranny .. funny... it just so happens you have one to do... LOL

[@bigjon7143]

Very helpful for a newbie to the hobby such as myself. Thank you.

[@cinluvsart]

Your welcome, glad I could help!!!

[@jeffjdt]

Exactly what I needed to learn today!!

[@TheLee1947]

I am new to model railroading so this is info I need to understand. I had a lot of trouble understanding your video. When you were showing the under side of the box cars, I could not make out the details because everything was black so couplers did not stand out. Put a piece of white paper between the body of the car and coupler and get the camera focused. Also use your pointer to ensure we as your students know exactly where on the box car we should look, Thank You

[@cinluvsart]

Thank you for your feed back and watching. This will help me when making future videos like this.

[@GandZscale]

Excellent thanks. Explained why my new 64' BLMA cars keep uncoupling. Body mounted couplers. Need to switch them out by the sounds of it.

[@jimmyk5223]

Im new to n scale thanks for all the videos and tips and tricks. Awesome 👌

[@N-Scale]

Thanks for sharing! Mike

[@dwightatnorthernstar1820]

Probably a good addition, would have to mention that there are different lengths of wheel shafts, and diameters so wheels don't pop out so easily....and run smoother......:)

[@gerardrusso4156]

Thank you!

[@cinluvsart]

Thank you for the comment and watching my video

[@philfodera6294]

Hi Great video thanks for posting it.

[@cinluvsart]

+Phil Fodera Thanks for the comment and watching the video...Arthur

[@mwoodturner54]

Very helpful - thanks very much!

[@woodybear8298]

Nice video, but wish you'd learn your camera's minimum focusing distance.

[@michaelreardon6527]

Interesting video, the 60ft Box car is High Cube by Micro-trains not Intermountain. They made 62ft Beer Cars. 👍

[@NHseacoast]

Great video, do you know wharv micro train part # truck you used on-the Orange flat car ? Thanks

[@joedamato4850]

great job!

[@rg1809]

In a perfect world, the pins are all the same. I've found that there are three different diameters to the pins, and the holes in the trucks for the pins to go through are variable as well. Not to mention, today, Micro train couplers are $60. I didn't bother to check the trucks.

[@polojize]

I'll stick to my old school coupler I've never had any trouble's with them...

[@ephraimdominic4535]

You probably dont care but if you are bored like me atm you can stream pretty much all the new movies on instaflixxer. Been watching with my brother for the last couple of months xD

[@boonesamuel1935]

@Ephraim Dominic Yea, I've been watching on instaflixxer for years myself :D

[@YohamYT]

@@boonesamuel1935 You both are so fake lmfao

[@oldencrow7137]

I would like to see how to replace couplers on a locomotive. Changing over to microtrains couplers on the cars look easy, but you have to put MT on the locos and I wonder how easy that is? If it's not easy on the loco, then of course changing over on the cars is probably not a good idea.

[@bigsby2076]

The pin that holds the trucks into the flat car - if you were to lose one, would the Atlas King Pins work on most any rolling stock?

[@cinluvsart]

As I replace the atlas trucks with Micro Trains couplers. I keep the old King pins I Case I lose one.

[@feminazislayer]

How did we go form " I went to N for the space you have to work with is so much bigger" to "my couplers aren't realistic"

[@jamesrhayden7818]

Hi Art. Very good information and instruction video. I'm a former HO modeler converting to N scale. I'm changing the N cars couplers, and adding metal wheels. Question; for passenger cars do couplers need to be changed? If I recall Kato passenger cars couplers appeared prototypical. Same for Walthers too. Thanks.

[@uprailman]

Thanks I learned some of the tricks but not answering a ? about height of couplers. and how to adjust that so they match up. I am assuming that if one change all to Micro/kadee trucks and couplers that they automatic become the same height. But if one just does the body mount then a height adjustment is needed and how does one accomplish that.

[@AmericanSamurai1]

Thanks for sharing Art. Curious if you ever just change the couplers. I have a bunch of trains that have Rapido couplers and would like to change to knuckle couplers. I think the trucks are fine. I do not know maybe it is just easier to swap the truck as a unit but was hoping this is an option other have done and could share best practices. Your video tutorial was very thorough, thanks again.

[@cinluvsart]

+William Bly If reading your question right, I would just advise to change the whole truck assembly, because your going to spend around 6 bucks for mirco trains trucks and couplers. You could also go the route of body mounted couplers and cut of the shank to the redeo coupler at the truck base. thanks for your question and coment.

[@jimmyk5223]

Will the short truck mounted couplers work on tight curves? And how is reverse? Any details?

[@cinluvsart]

Yes short mounted trucks will work on tight curves, as long as there nothing on the underside on the car body that will prevent wheels and trucks from turning on the curve.

[@elleryparsons5766]

How Bout Changing couplers From Old school to knuckles.

[@cinluvsart]

For n scale it the same process.

[@myoung48281]

If you have a kata loco you'd need to replace the car's couplers with kata couplers?

[@AlexTheRailroader]

I see you have Atlas turnouts. I have the same exact turnouts, have you experienced any locomotives having complete loss of power when crossing the frogs? I have two new Atlas 4-4-0's and they always come to a stop over the frogs, my GE U23B doesn't, I assume because the pickup wheels are spaced far enough that when one truck goes over the frogs, the other truck still on the rails keeps the power flowing.

[@cinluvsart]

+Alexander Younies, the older Atlas turnouts are hit and miss as far as lossing power. I have not had any problems with the newer Altas turn out bought since 2011. I do have some older turn out from Peco that my locomotive loose power on the points. Im my opinion I think it has to do with when the turnouts were manufactured. Thanks for the comment.

[@N-Scale]

Would you mind if I linked this video to our How To page on our website?

[@cinluvsart]

Thank you it be an honor Mike for you to use it.

[@MrRenoman2011]

Thanks

[@skipduld3630]

I have all BUCHMAN cars and dc engines what would suggest for couples to buy?

[@jimmyk5223]

Can I replace the pins with screws on trucks?

[@cinluvsart]

Yes you can replace the pins with screws

[@jaapongeveer6203]

New to the hobby, my N scale rolling stock wobbles. Is that a common issue? I'm thinking add weight?

[@cinluvsart]

Weight may solve the problem. It could also be the track work or the trucks it’s self. I would start by weighing the cars.

[@mrpush2532]

I have some cars w trucks "riveted" on....how to i replace those?

[@spinster4000]

I have a gunderson husky car, n scale rapdio, but it says Roundhouse Products but it has the old rapido couplers and they are attached to the wheels and it is the square ones, kinda like horn but square any help? I wanna use them but i cant

[@thezfunk]

What about good places you guys like buying from for couplers?

[@cinluvsart]

I buy them off Amazon or Hobbylinc.com

[@SwapnilBhartiya]

I don't understand the logic that truck mount couplers work better on tight curve. HOW? tigh curve means that the wheels will be pushed to the angle leading to derailment vs wheels are independent of the curve . Technically body mount couplers will work better on tight curves.

[@Brad-xd2bt]

Not every truck fits every car. Just something to keep in mind

[@cinluvsart]

Mirco Trains, makes couplers for for Bachmann locomotive and your frieght cars. go to there website at www.mircotrains.com

[@dino21tx]

Does not go in that easy in real life. What if you lose the pin?

[@cinluvsart]

You can buy replacement pins on ebay. I usually keep the extra pins that come with the micro trains trucks and couplers.

[@donmiles5080]

Can't see a thing it's so blurry. Maybe I need new glasses.

[@UTubeRangerBob]

Are Micro-Trains and McHenry couplers compatible, that is do they couple together? From what I can see in the video, they appear very similar.

[@cinluvsart]

Yes they are compatible.

[@UTubeRangerBob]

@@cinluvsart Thanks