Truck versus body mount couplers

[UPBigBoy]

Is it better to change the couplers on a Athearn @1143 work/baggage car to the body/frame from the truck mounted coupler or just put the Kadee coupler in the truck mount?

Thanks in advance

Jim

 

[CNR Glen]

That depends on your curve radiuses. Athearn cars are designed to run on 18" radius curves and so the couplers swivel with the trucks to allow for this. If you were to body mount the couplers the couplers wouldn't swing around the curves and derail the car on tight curves.
When I ran athearn passenger cars I had 24" radius curves and kept the couplers on the trucks for better and reliable preformance. I now run the longer Rivarossi cars and still have the couplers mounted to the trucks

 

[NP2626]

I asgree with CNR Glen, My radious is 22 and the number 5s mounted on the trucks work just fine. I know that they would not allow that radius, if they were body mounted. Do this experiment, if you have any S-curves, watch the cars go through them and see how much the couplers would need to swing in order to work if body mounted.