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deemery
Fireman
   
Premium Member
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Posted - 05/15/2020 : 3:26:33 PM
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Has anyone converted a Bachmann bobber caboose to Kadee couplers? The coupler box seems to be a little bit too small, I tried putting a 158 and the lid fit too tightly so the coupler didn't pivot.
I presume you could mill out the box and replace it, but I'd like to talk to someone who's actually done that.
dave
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Modeling 1890s (because the voices in my head told me to) |
Country: USA
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Bill Gill
Fireman
   

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Posted - 05/15/2020 : 5:22:37 PM
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Dave, my C&V RR has three bobbers withBachmann underframes and Kadee 158s on one end and MDC dummies on the other and all work fine. I'll try to dig one out to get a photo of the underside. Don't remember doing anything special except maybe used a Kadee cover.
http://railroad-line.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=46011
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Edited by - Bill Gill on 05/15/2020 6:09:28 PM |
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desertdrover
Engineer
    

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Posted - 05/15/2020 : 5:35:38 PM
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I did a critter build using the Bachmann bobber caboose, starting on page #3 here; http://www.railroad-line.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=21836&whichpage=3 I used a Bachmann Bobber Caboose with Kadee 158 whisker couplers. What I did was cut a very thin piece of styrene tubing, glued it onto the stub where the coupler set down onto, then when you screw the coupler box top on it gives you the extra space for the looseness.
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 Louis Pacific Northwest Logging in the East Coast Post count: 5000 posts added to below count.
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Country: USA
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deemery
Fireman
   
Premium Member

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Posted - 05/15/2020 : 6:23:01 PM
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Very clever, Louis!
dave
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Modeling 1890s (because the voices in my head told me to) |
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Country: USA
| Posts: 8740 |
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desertdrover
Engineer
    

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Posted - 05/15/2020 : 6:37:53 PM
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quote: Originally posted by deemery
Very clever, Louis!
dave
Thanks Dave. I took some pictures of the coupler box and spacer for you to see. After reading my build again I noticed I didn't really go into the coupler mounting work. Also, you don't need to use the whisker coupler, because I done other bobbers using the Kadee brass Centering Springs, also with the spacer on the stub.

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 Louis Pacific Northwest Logging in the East Coast Post count: 5000 posts added to below count.
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Country: USA
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railman28
Fireman
   

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Posted - 05/15/2020 : 8:30:27 PM
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Louis, That is cleaver. This Neanderthal would of cut/scraped off Bachmann's box and used the Kadee box without the lid.
Bob
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It's only make-believe
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Country: USA
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deemery
Fireman
   
Premium Member

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Posted - 05/16/2020 : 4:21:40 PM
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Thanks to everyone for the ideas. Here's what I ended up doing. I constructed new coupler lids from .020 styrene (I probably lost the Bachmann originals). Then I added .010 x .030 strips on the inside to add a bit of height to the coupler box. The hole is the clearance hole for 00-90, which fits in the Bachmann undercarriage. I added a bit of .010x.030 strip on the outside front of my lid, for strength and appearance. The couplers are now at the proper height and pivot well with the box screwed in place.

(I trimmed the strips after the photo, it's hard to see the white strips glued onto the white lid...)
dave
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Modeling 1890s (because the voices in my head told me to) |
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Country: USA
| Posts: 8740 |
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desertdrover
Engineer
    

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Posted - 05/16/2020 : 6:52:04 PM
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quote: Originally posted by railman28
Louis, That is cleaver. This Neanderthal would of cut/scraped off Bachmann's box and used the Kadee box without the lid.
Bob
Well Bob no matter how you slice it, it would of done the trick as well. 
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 Louis Pacific Northwest Logging in the East Coast Post count: 5000 posts added to below count.
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Country: USA
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desertdrover
Engineer
    

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Posted - 05/16/2020 : 6:55:44 PM
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That idea is also a winner Dave. I'm sure once you paint it black, it will never be known you made it up.
Did you use the whisker coupler, or the Brass centering spring from Kadee?
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 Louis Pacific Northwest Logging in the East Coast Post count: 5000 posts added to below count.
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Country: USA
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deemery
Fireman
   
Premium Member

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Posted - 05/16/2020 : 7:03:35 PM
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I used a whisker coupler.
dave
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Modeling 1890s (because the voices in my head told me to) |
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Country: USA
| Posts: 8740 |
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late-1800s
New Hire
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Posted - 10/22/2020 : 07:46:59 AM
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I found the best way for my Mantua bobber was to rebuild everything and use Moloco draft gear parts. These are much longer than Kadee boxes and have screw mounts that are much further back and install inside the body shell of a caboose.

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desertdrover
Engineer
    

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Posted - 10/22/2020 : 09:39:59 AM
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This is an older thread, however, I'm glad you posted this information. I never knew these draft gear items were made by Moloco. There are instances where I could use these. Just to be clear, these are HO correct?
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 Louis Pacific Northwest Logging in the East Coast Post count: 5000 posts added to below count.
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Country: USA
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