Barry and Penarth Model Railway Club

Technique 4: Fixing Kadee couplings to older Hornby and Bachmann wagons

Click on the pictures to enlarge

This is a simple method for replacing hook & bar couplings in some older Bachmann and Hornby freight wagons with operating Kadee couplings. Providing the original coupling is attached to the wagon with a single bolt or selftaping screw, this method does not damage the wagon in any way and, should the need arise, the original couplings can be reinstated.

Drill a small hole in the shank of a Kadee No 20 coupling. The hole should be where the '20' is embossed on the plastic and central to the side ridges.
	Take a suitable wagon - in this case a Bachmann tank wagon with hook & bar coupling, fixed with a single bolt. Remove the bolt and take off the coupling.
Fix the Kadee No 20 using the same bolt, but include a small washer to spread the pressure across the side ridges of the shank.
	The view of the wagon from the top.

The pictures above show two small wheelbased Hornby wagons. In this case, the tail of the Kadee has to be cut in situ to avoid fouling the wheel-axle. A similar modification is shown below with the Kadee fitted to a Hornby Terrier loco.

If close coupling is required and the length of the buffers allows, then the hole can be positioned closer to the coupling itself. However caution should be exercised, especially with Bachmann wagons not to get the coupling too close to the body of the wagon, or else the coupling mechanism can rub against the locating boss and hence not rotate freely - see below.