Hornby vacuum pipe magnetic couplings 17mm or 20mm?

[pendeenpete]

Getting the 17mm size as small Christmas gift, anyone used these for coaches?

My tightest curves are over radius 3 (flexible track),

I have a small rake of Hornby Collett coaches plus some Mk 1's etc.

Hornby's description is the same for both sizes regarding suitability, anyone used these without buffer lock?

Cheers

[atom3624]

I've purchased 'close coupling' magnetic couplings in the past - Hunt - for other wagons, and they've been slightly too close, so purchased the next size up, and 'mix'n'matched' them, if/when very slightly too close (simply lever themselves uncoupled!!).

Hopefully somebody has direct experience and can answer, but you may need to 'experiment' a little.

Al.

[pendeenpete]

Thanks, I thought more people would have them as they were very popular.

Won't be the end of the world, but thought they would look quite good.

[M. Matthews]

I’ve used both lengths and found the 20mm is not close enough for my liking. Even the 17mm leaves a 2/3mm gap. This is going by the mk1 coaches though. I’ll take a picture of how they look with both lengths tomorrow and post them.

[ellocoloco]

I would have thought that unless the wagon actually has a (correct) NEM362 coupling mount you will never get proper close coupling. If your Collett and Mk1 coaches have NEM mounts then go for the shortest - or the Roco clones R8220.

[pendeenpete]

Amazon listed them as 19mm,even though there isn't that size,Hornby's description is the same for both sizes, so thanks for this forum.

Pictures would be great, thank you

[M. Matthews]

So here is where I’ve made use of some the magnetic couplings.

1st picture is between Hornby mk1’s with the 20mm couplings. Goes through second radius no problems.

2nd picture is between Hornby mk1’s with the 17mm couplings. Buffer locks when going through 2nd radius reverse curves.

3rd picture (my personal favourite) is 20mm couplings between Bachmann mk1’s. Goes through second radius no problems.

4th picture is between on older Bachmann DMU with 17mm couplings. Goes through second radius no problems.

I’ve messed around with just about every type of coupling going, so if anyone wants to see any other combo’s, let me know and I’ll post them up.

[pendeenpete]

M Mathews, thanks very much, I haven't got any 2nd radius curves,so should be fine.

Very kind of you to take the time

[Going Spare]

Have you tried 'pairing' a 17mm coupling on one vehicle with a 20mm coupling on the adjacent vehicle?

[atom3624]

That is what I suggested at the beginning - mix'n'match.

Makes sense.

Al.

[M. Matthews]

A combo of the two lengths on the bogie mounted pocket still causes the buffers to touch on a 2nd radius curve. Would probably be fine on stock that has kinematic coupling pockets though. Obviously the mk1’s don’t have this but I don’t know about the Collett coaches.

[atom3624]

Looks like you're stuck with the longer on both sides then for the non-kinematic coupled stock.

Al.

[pendeenpete]

The 17mm ones are a Christmas gift from my daughter, can't try them until the 25th!

However, if they don't work as planned then mixing them is a good idea thanks

[M. Matthews]

The Collett’s appear to have kinematic couplings, so you should be good for those 👍🏾

[pendeenpete]

Thanks again, 👍

[Aussie Fred]

Just tried to fit 20mm couplings to my Bachmann Intercity MK2A coaches and they are far too short, at least 3-4mm in total. Back to the drawing board for me.

[M. Matthews]

Just tried to fit 20mm couplings to my Bachmann Intercity MK2A coaches and they are far too short, at least 3-4mm in total. Back to the drawing board for me.

 

 

That’s interesting. So the pockets on the Bachmann MK2’s are set back even further than the MK1’s? Are you able to post a picture of this? Cheers.

[Aussie Fred]

Another first for me

[Aussie Fred]

In an attempt to get my Bachmann coaches on magnetic couplings I have contacted West Hill Wagon Works a week ago, to see if they have longer couplings, but so far no answer. Does anyone know of anywhere one can get NEM magnetic couplings longer than Hornby 20mm?

[atom3624]

One thing to bear in mind is that I've found if there's a momentary interruption of power, which swiftly returns, the sudden jerk of the power returning can uncouple magnetic couplings.

If not observed at the time, on a continuous 'loop' track, it could result in quite an accident!

Al.

[M. Matthews]

In an attempt to get my Bachmann coaches on magnetic couplings I have contacted West Hill Wagon Works a week ago, to see if they have longer couplings, but so far no answer. Does anyone know of anywhere one can get NEM magnetic couplings longer than Hornby 20mm?

 

 

Yes the West Hill Wagon Works couplings are longer provided you get the ones which are specifically made for Bachmann coaches. You get a gap which is about the same as when you use the close coupling supplied by Bachmann. Not sure why the link implies it’s for HST power cars.

EDIT: There are pictures on the product page which suggest the overall coupling length is 22.8mm

 

 

https://westhillwagonworks.com/hunt-couplings-elite-oo/474-additional-pair-of-hst-powercar-buckeye-elite-couplings.html

[Aussie Fred]

Thanks - the HST power cars bit confused me too and I didn't get a reponse from them, so I took a punt and ordered them. Unfortunately the postage is more than the goods, but that is the penalty for living on the wrong side of the world.

[Aussie Fred]

I maybe raised this query too soon. I decided to put the micrometer on the 17mm and 20mm coupling that I got from Hornby and while the 17mm is actually 17mm, the 20mm is only 18.88mm. Has anyone else bought them and can you confirm if I did get a bodgie batch with the 20mm R7399?

[atom3624]

Was the 20mm perhaps crushed a little during transit?

I wouldn't have thought there was much flexibility in these coupling mouldings.

Al.

[Aussie Fred]

I got 3 packs of the 20mm and they all measure the same 18.88mm. I also 3 packs of 17mm and they still measure 17mm. I have raised the question with Hornby technical as to what are their tolerances.