Centre buffers?
- Boustrophedon
- Trainee Fireman
- Posts: 235
- Joined: Wed May 22, 2013 7:43 pm
Centre buffers?
I cannot get on with original mamod buffers and so I would like to fit centre buffers to make coupling and uncoupling easier without getting all bufferlocked.
What is the best design/source for these and what mods are needed to the loco?
What is the best design/source for these and what mods are needed to the loco?
- mikewakefielduk@btinterne
- Fireman
- Posts: 309
- Joined: Wed Nov 28, 2012 1:43 pm
- Location: Shropshire
Centre Buffers
You can get centre buffers from many sources. The first thing to decide is the method of coupling you want to use. Most people go for hook and chain but I've seen chopper couplings or even a modified LGB loop and hook.
Have a look here: http://www.swiftsixteen.com/productDeta ... oductID=76
or here: http://www.ip-engineering.co.uk/acatalo ... lings.html
Personally I've used Roundhouse style centre couplings as they're pretty similar to the ones Mamod themselves fit to the Brunel and Telford locos.
This is how I've fitted them:
Unscrew the existing brass buffers and discard (or sell on ebay!).
Take off the red buffer beam overlay.
Cut off or file off the existing hook which will leave a slot in the buffer beam.
You then need to make a hole at the top of this slot, the same diameter as the retaining thread of the new replacement centre coupling. I used a very small round file.
Replace the buffer beam overlay, I used 6BA hex head steel bolts but you could use brass cheese head screws instead.
The new centre buffer can then be pushed through the slot in the overlay (you may need to carefully file if necessary), through the filed hole in the buffer beam and then the supplied nut is tightened behind it. If the slot in the buffer beam is a bit wide use a washer.
Alternatively you can use a multi height coupling instead of a Roundhouse style, but the fixing method is the same.
Have a look here: http://www.swiftsixteen.com/productDeta ... oductID=76
or here: http://www.ip-engineering.co.uk/acatalo ... lings.html
Personally I've used Roundhouse style centre couplings as they're pretty similar to the ones Mamod themselves fit to the Brunel and Telford locos.
This is how I've fitted them:
Unscrew the existing brass buffers and discard (or sell on ebay!).
Take off the red buffer beam overlay.
Cut off or file off the existing hook which will leave a slot in the buffer beam.
You then need to make a hole at the top of this slot, the same diameter as the retaining thread of the new replacement centre coupling. I used a very small round file.
Replace the buffer beam overlay, I used 6BA hex head steel bolts but you could use brass cheese head screws instead.
The new centre buffer can then be pushed through the slot in the overlay (you may need to carefully file if necessary), through the filed hole in the buffer beam and then the supplied nut is tightened behind it. If the slot in the buffer beam is a bit wide use a washer.
Alternatively you can use a multi height coupling instead of a Roundhouse style, but the fixing method is the same.
- Boustrophedon
- Trainee Fireman
- Posts: 235
- Joined: Wed May 22, 2013 7:43 pm
- Boustrophedon
- Trainee Fireman
- Posts: 235
- Joined: Wed May 22, 2013 7:43 pm
Re: Centre Buffers
Brilliant, thanks.mikewakefielduk@btinterne:112271 wrote:You can get centre buffers from many sources. The first thing to decide is the method of coupling you want to use. Most people go for hook and chain but I've seen chopper couplings or even a modified LGB loop and hook.
Have a look here: http://www.swiftsixteen.com/productDeta ... oductID=76
or here: http://www.ip-engineering.co.uk/acatalo ... lings.html
Personally I've used Roundhouse style centre couplings as they're pretty similar to the ones Mamod themselves fit to the Brunel and Telford locos.
This is how I've fitted them:
Unscrew the existing brass buffers and discard (or sell on ebay!).
Take off the red buffer beam overlay.
Cut off or file off the existing hook which will leave a slot in the buffer beam.
You then need to make a hole at the top of this slot, the same diameter as the retaining thread of the new replacement centre coupling. I used a very small round file.
Replace the buffer beam overlay, I used 6BA hex head steel bolts but you could use brass cheese head screws instead.
The new centre buffer can then be pushed through the slot in the overlay (you may need to carefully file if necessary), through the filed hole in the buffer beam and then the supplied nut is tightened behind it. If the slot in the buffer beam is a bit wide use a washer.
Alternatively you can use a multi height coupling instead of a Roundhouse style, but the fixing method is the same.
- Boustrophedon
- Trainee Fireman
- Posts: 235
- Joined: Wed May 22, 2013 7:43 pm
- Tony Bird
- Trainee Driver
- Posts: 570
- Joined: Thu Jul 29, 2010 8:25 am
- Location: Cardiff, South Wales, UK.
Hi,
I modify the existing Mamod couplings to centre buffer. See:
www.youtube.com/embed/EZlBLMungik
Regards Tony.
I modify the existing Mamod couplings to centre buffer. See:
www.youtube.com/embed/EZlBLMungik
Regards Tony.
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- Trainee Fireman
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- Boustrophedon
- Trainee Fireman
- Posts: 235
- Joined: Wed May 22, 2013 7:43 pm
That's an idea.
Why does the Thomas Telford come with centre buffers that don't couple with any of the Mamod rolling stock?
At the moment I'm having trouble with not only my Mamod "paper clip couplings" coming apart, My Accucraft couplings won't stay linked either. The problem with the Accucraft couplings is that the hooks are too light to stay down reliably.
Grr.
Why does the Thomas Telford come with centre buffers that don't couple with any of the Mamod rolling stock?
At the moment I'm having trouble with not only my Mamod "paper clip couplings" coming apart, My Accucraft couplings won't stay linked either. The problem with the Accucraft couplings is that the hooks are too light to stay down reliably.
Grr.
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