Fitting Kaydee’s to Bachmann Class 37

[James Brake]

Hi everyone.

 

I’m trying to fit Kaydee couplings to a recently purchased Bachmann Class 37/0. Does anyone have any hints for removing the bogie underside in order to access the coupling attachment point?

 

Best regards.

[tamperman36]

A Bachmann 37 should have NEM coupler pockets as standard which you can get a Kadee coupling that is a straight forward clip in replacement, all you need to do is get the correct hieght. I believe they are 16,17,18 and 19s

 

Vitrains 37s and 47s do not have NEM coupler boxes which does cause a few issues.

[James Brake]

I’m afraid it’s not as simple as that. The small tension locks supplied with the model seem to be in NEM-style pockets but they’re buried inside the bogie. I need to remove the bogie baseplate to access it & I can’t see how it’s done.

[Butler Henderson]

Just pull the tension locks out of the NEM socket and push the Kadees in.

[James Brake]

Hi again.

 

Thanks for the replies. I hope I’ve been able to upload some photos of the problem. As can be seen, there is no NEM pocket accessible without dismantling the bogie. I don’t see any screws placed that would enable that to be easily done. I was hoping someone would have a tip as to how to get at the coupling mount so I can fit the Kaydees.

 

Kind regards.

Edited December 7, 2017 by James Brake

[dhjgreen]

The NEM pocket is here as others have said, pull the TL out of it, simples

Edit sorry it's a bit small

Edited December 7, 2017 by dhjgreen

[dhjgreen]

Better view NEM at the end of the arrow, just pull as everyone is saying

Edit looking at the picture again, have you already pulled one TL out, are you using NEM Kadees? (17, 18, 19)

Edited December 7, 2017 by dhjgreen

[tamperman36]

The NEM coupler box is moulded into the bogie frame itself, you should be able to pull the tension lock coupler out but it will put up a bit of a fight as its designed to be able to pull a full train.

[johnb]

Yes to pull the tension lock coupler out of the NEM pocket does need a bit of determination, but it will come out.

 

John

[34theletterbetweenB&D]

... if you really insist on removing the bogie frame then you need you very gently lever the bogie at the rear near the fuel tank and lift it off from that end, there are clips on the outer end of the bogie which the frame must be placed over 1st when you refit it, so it is unclip from the rear 1st then slide the frame towards you.

 

To replace the bogie frame just do the reverse, place the bogie frame over the clips on the outer end 1st then clip the rear into place, beware, the plastic at the rear of the bogies is thin and will break easily...

 It is yet easier if first the body is removed, the bogie pivot screws undone, the connections to the pick ups disconnected and the bogies allowed to drop out of the chassis block. Then you can clearly see how to disengage the clip on frame from the bogie gear tower as described in the post excerpt . (I'd suggest this for any 'first time' attempt to remove the clip on bogie frames of a Bachmann mechanism, simply so that the way it works is clearly on view.)

 

But exactly as others above, simplest of all is to pull harder on the tension locks...

[tamperman36]

I would not try taking the loco apart unless you are confidant doing so, that is not a simple job for a beginner it takes patience and knowledge to dismantle and reassemble these modern locos.

[James Brake]

Thanks a lot, Gents. I just changed them now. I hadn’t realized they were that easy to remove. I’ve installed Kaydees on most of my stock now, but the NEM pockets have always been fully accessible. For info, I use a mixture of 17s & 18s. I find Bachmann Mk1 coaches are too close together for the 17s given the curvature in my hidden sidings (24” minimum), though the 17s work fine on all of my freight stock and on DMUs. Again, much obliged.