Athearn 50' PS1 Bodymounted Couplers

[garethashenden]

I've got a couple of these cars that I'd like to install bodymounted couplers on and I'm wondering if anyone has done it before. At first glance there is a big gap between the truck mounted coupler and the floor, this would need a pretty thick shim. The other question I have about these cars is if the ride height is correct? They look a little high, but I may be wrong. If they are high, lowering them would help solve the coupler problem. Finally, if they do need to be lowered, what's the best way of doing it?

[cjm413]

Athearn's last run came with coupler boxes molded into what appears to be their existing metal underframe.

However, I haven't measured the dimensions of the new coupler box to see how it would compare to a commercially available coupler box plus any shims added to an older Athearn (or MDC) metal underframe.

[Mark5]

Athearn's last run came with coupler boxes molded into what appears to be their existing metal underframe.

True I have one. Unfortunately, instead of lowering the body (by adjusting the bolster or trucks), they lowered the coupler pocket - so this is useless to me.

For this car, luckily I have some spares of the MDC/Roundhouse underframes and will replace it on the new car with one of these - to make body mounting easier.

Mark

[cjm413]

True I have one. Unfortunately, instead of lowering the body (by adjusting the bolster or trucks), they lowered the coupler pocket - so this is useless to me.

For this car, luckily I have some spares of the MDC/Roundhouse underframes and will replace it on the new car with one of these - to make body mounting easier.

Mark

Off the top of my head, I recall the ride height of the Athearn/MDC underframe used on the PS-1, FMC X-post cars, etc was OK.

If there are any ride height issues with the PS-1 that I'm forgetting about, it's possible that they are due to the way the PS-1 car body sits on the underframe vs the FMC, etc car bodies that use the same underframe.

[bbussey]

The ride height was good on the truck-mounted version. I shimmed, if I remember correctly. Haven't acquired any of the body-mounted versions as of yet.

[skm]

I fitted mine with BLMA Trucks with the lowered bolster. Body mounted couplers were then at the right height.

I believe I measured the ride height against the Atlas 40' PS1s beforehand. Memory might be serving me wrong though

[nkalanaga]

I body mounted 1025s on mine, and like the earlier MDC cars, it does take a fairly thick shim.  But the original ride height seems about right, so I didn't change that.

[garethashenden]

Thanks everyone! I'll leave the ride height alone and add shims.