Subject:
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Re: Couplings for long overhang 4 wheeled vehicles
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.trains
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Date:
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Thu, 9 Sep 2004 16:36:29 GMT
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Viewed:
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1998 times
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In lugnet.trains, Tim David wrote:
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In lugnet.trains, Manfred Moolhuysen wrote:
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In lugnet.trains, Tim David wrote:
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I am currently designing some long four wheeled vehicles
(http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?i=847126 for example) and am
having problems with the coupling design. Because of the long overhangs the
couplings need to be mounted on an arm that can pivot to allow the coupling
to be more over the centre line of the track on curves. However this leads
to to problems when pushing the vehicles as the arm moves to one side and
causes problems at the ends of straights or on opposite curves.
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Have you considered using this part?:
 2607 Magnet Holder 2 x 3
They are not expensive, and available on Brickshelf in large quantities.
With friendly greetings, M. Moolhuysen
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I hadn’t seen these, I’ll have to experiment, thanks for idea. I actually
must have a couple somewhere as I have a 8001 Battle Droid.
I had thought of
these  2609 Magnet Holder Tile 2 x 2 but
I couldn’t see a way of attaching them strongly enough.
Has anyone used any
non magnet couplings (not fixed bars). I remeber there was someone who used
Kaydees but I would really like a Lego solution. I am toying with the idea of
a ‘chopper’ type coupling
using a Minifig pickaxe as the hook. The problem with this is that without
the attraction of the magnet coupling would have to be done on the straight.
Tim
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I have used various methods, including the magnet holder mentioned above, though
the method below is the best one for long overhangs:
Parts required:
Two Technic plates 2x4 with holes (3709b).
One K3 black elastic band, 18mm diameter, 1.25mm thick.
One 2-stud axle (new type with notches) (32062)
One coupling shoe and magnet (discard the buffer beam).
Method:
1. Put the two 2x4 plates together bottom to bottom, overlapping by 2 studs,
making a 2x6 outline. 2. Put the axle through the hole that lines up.
3. Put the elastic band through the middle hole of one of the plates.
4. Wrap the band round the axle at both sides.
5. Turn the plates one the axle so that the band gets into the notches of the
axle and the plates spring back to straight again. 6. Attach the coupling shoe
to the bottom of the plate that does not have the band through its middle hole.
7. Set the magnet to the same way round as all the other vehicles. If you don’t
have a turntable, triangular junction or reverse loop on your layout, it doesn’t
matter that magnet polarity is semi-permanent, as long as magnets on all
vehicles are turned the same way. 8. Turn the coupling device so that the
coupling shoe is on top and attach the 2x4 plate to a bogie or chassis. 9. You
can use 2x6 or 2x8 plates with holes instead, to put the pivot further
underneath the vehicle for longer overhangs. I’ve found that it’s best if the
axle pivot is approximately level with the buffer beam on bogie diesel locos, or
that the pivot should be half way between the magnet and the motor. 10. Avoid
the device sticking by fixing to 4 studs (2x2) on top of the plate and 2
underneath, also keeping adjacent studs free either side so that the corners
don’t catch on anything.
I have used this coupling method on small engines with big overhangs, such as
this one:
on larger engines whose bogies are a long way underneath:
and on wagons with bodies longer than 16 studs, like this “Toad” brake van:
It is now my preferred coupling method for all but the shortest wheelbases for
two reasons.
1: It’s not tall, so it doesn’t catch on the buffer beam or on buffers made from
1x1 round bricks and 2x2 round boat studs.
2: The coupling springs back to (almost) straight. This is better than using a
2x3 round-ended plate with hole, which, without extra parts, allows the coupling
shoe to stay at one side, making coupling awkward.
Mark
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Message has 1 Reply:
 | | Re: Couplings for long overhang 4 wheeled vehicles
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| (...) Like this? (URL) It looks pretty simple an effective, you get just a little bit of movement on the coupling shoe pivot but not enough to cause jack-knifing. The problem from my point of view is that its too wide, I am looking for something (...) (20 years ago, 11-Sep-04, to lugnet.trains, FTX)
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Message is in Reply To:
| | Re: Couplings for long overhang 4 wheeled vehicles
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| (...) I hadn't seen these, I'll have to experiment, thanks for idea. I actually must have a couple somewhere as I have a 8001 Battle Droid. I had thought of these (URL) 2609 Magnet Holder Tile 2 x 2 but I couldn't see a way of attaching them (...) (20 years ago, 9-Sep-04, to lugnet.trains, FTX)
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