Peco GR-101 Couplers

[Mark Shenstone]

I'm fairly new to OO9 modeling but have been into model trains more years than I care to think about. :) And have dabbled in most of the common scales over the years.

Inspired by some of the wagon threads I thought I'd have a go at building some of my own stock as Peco wagon chassis kits are easy to come by as are the GR-101 Couplers.

Now here is where I'm scratching my head and the solution is going to be laughably simple I suspect. The couplers go together easy enough but for the life of me I can't get them to sit straight and level in the Peco wagon coupler pocket, they always sit at an angel and I can't figure out why.

Help!

Mark, the coupler challenged.

[Elmgate]

It is a long time since I saw or used these, but I recall that they are not as "thick" as the N couplers they replace, so a small amount of packing is required. The "common" height for the top of the coupler is 6mm, so pack either below or above to achieve this. I have a feeling that the N chassis have a "lid" which holds the original couplers in place and this should be re-used. Otherwise, you may be able to incorporate the packing as part of your wagon floor.

Hope this helps!

Tim

[Mark Shenstone]

Yes thanks Tim! Bit of packing seems to have fixed the problem I was having.

[B.Meldon]

You also may find that the Peco GR-101 couplings do not couple up with most other couplings because the face sticks out too far from the upward pin. Basically the loop on other couplings cannot reach over the pin on the GR-101.

You will have to see how you get on with them but I find that I have to file the face of the Peco coupling and the back edge of the pin to make them work as they should with all other couplings of this type, i.e. Egger/Bemo/Roco/Liliput etc.

Coupling height is critical in 009, all the loops have to be at exactly the same height and horizontal to the track for them all to work as they should. This is not easy to do as virtually every 009 and H0e kit and even many ready to run items all have different coupling heights, often even within one manufactures range!
The best thing to do is to set yourself a coupling height when you start building things and then adjust all the couplings you fit to this same exact height. (what ever height you go for the lowest part of the metal loop must be above rail height.)
This is well worth the effort when starting out in 009 as it will be a complete pain later on!

I use the small Roco four wheel wagons as a height guide as it is virtually impossible to change these and I use them a lot for bogies.

Brian Meldon

[jimowers]

You also may find that the Peco GR-101 couplings do not couple up with most other couplings because the face sticks out too far from the upward pin. Basically the loop on other couplings cannot reach over the pin on the GR-101.

You will have to see how you get on with them but I find that I have to file the face of the Peco coupling and the back edge of the pin to make them work as they should with all other couplings of this type, i.e. Egger/Bemo/Roco/Liliput etc.

Coupling height is critical in 009, all the loops have to be at exactly the same height and horizontal to the track for them all to work as they should. This is not easy to do as virtually every 009 and H0e kit and even many ready to run items all have different coupling heights, often even within one manufactures range!
The best thing to do is to set yourself a coupling height when you start building things and then adjust all the couplings you fit to this same exact height. (what ever height you go for the lowest part of the metal loop must be above rail height.)
This is well worth the effort when starting out in 009 as it will be a complete pain later on!


Brian, I have found a very simple way to check coupling height. RT Models supply a coupling height gauge (http://www.rtmodels.co.uk/rt_models_018.htm which I have glued on to a piece of track. It has the hook set at the correct height and I just check every loco and wagon on this test track to ensure perfect coupling every time.

I use the small Roco four wheel wagons as a height guide as it is virtually impossible to change these and I use them a lot for bogies.

Brian Meldon