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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Sun, 12 Sep 2004 16:41:34 GMT
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Viewed:
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2212 times
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In lugnet.trains, Tim David wrote:
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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.
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Like this?
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 that
comes out of the centre of the buffer beam rather than below it so I don’t
want the slot too wide. Using the 2x3 magnet holder presented a challenge to
attatch it but I have come up with this
The
2x3 magnet holder is attached using
a
 43093 Technic, Axle Pin WITH
Friction
to prevent it rotating. The
2736 Technic, Axle Towball
is for attatching an elastic band to provide
centreing. The design can be extended using an axle and
a
 6538b Technic, Axle Joiner (New Style
with X Opening)
Another way of mounting the arm with built in centreing
would be to use a
 bb108 Technic,
Axle Joiner Double Flexible
but I havent seen one for real so I don’t know
how well it work.
Tim
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That’s right.
The problem with that is you’re relying on the strength of the axle and peg
friction in order not to pull the couplings apart. With 12-wide stock there’s
some serious weight to pull! Also, your magnet holder is likely to rotate, even
using an axle pin with friction, due to the forces of the heavy train.
You could vary my method by replacing one of the 2x4 plates with a 5L, 6L or 7L
4mm wide liftarm, attaching the end to the stud of your magnet holder. I did
this on my tube wagons (sorry no pictures).
The result is an arm 8mm wide x 4mm high, with a magnet holder on the end. The
liftarm and magnet holder make a good joint, with the joint being at right
angles to the pulling force, and I’ve had no problems with sustained running of
6 tube wagons. I also use the liftarms on other permanent rakes of stock,
sometimes extended with 1-wide plates.
Mark
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Message has 1 Reply:
 | | Re: Couplings for long overhang 4 wheeled vehicles
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| (...) I had considered the problem of relying on the friction of the axles/pegs. My thoughts were that the magnet to magnet join would actually be the weak link, although the coupling assembly might pull apart a little at a time with use. Presumably (...) (20 years ago, 12-Sep-04, to lugnet.trains)
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Message is in Reply To:
| | 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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