Garden Railway Forum

I am considering converting to chopper couplings as they are more prototypicle, having carriages pulled by a 3 link chain is quite rare (although your all bound to correct me) so I bought two pairs of chopper couplings from Brandbright. I have heared mised reviews but what do you think about them? Also if I do get on well with them would anyone consider swapping a load of ip centre 3 link couplings for accucraft choppers?
Thanks

Mr. Bond of the DVLR wrote: having carriages pulled by a 3 link chain is quite rare (although your all bound to correct me)

He he, can't resist, Welshpool and Llanfair Railway uses a similar system, and also the War Department wagons use 3 link chains, although often with a very short middle link
Personally I wouldn't go with choppers, as everyone seems to use 3 link and whenever i've tried it (such as my ebay L&B wagons) i've had problems, with occasional uncouplings for no apparant reason etc. With Accucraft ones it is also a very good idea to remove the springs, overwise they don't have enough throw over on track of 3 foot radius or less (making things tricky on Peco set-track!)

Hmmm, I'll take the springs out and give em a trail sometime this week and see and get back to this one!

I have accucraft choppers fitted to all my larger stock and they work fine. However i would not recomend them for the larger coaches as they do not have the flexibility of chain

Thats good, I've all 4 wheel stock!

I've got a pair off an Edrig you are welcome to if you want. Well. I'll have a pair off an Edrig once I've taken them off said Edrig anyway.

The offer is much appreciated! Square of round?

Personally, I love chopper couplings. I started with 3 link buffer couplings way back in the 80's, but tried choppers and have never looked back.. Most of my stock has been converted to choppers (Accucraft and Tenmille). I have 7 Bachmann and 2 LGB G scale bogie coaches which are fitted with them (and sprung), and I have never had any problems, admittedly, my tightest curves are 4 ft radius. The height of the coupler needs to be pretty accurate to prevent uncoupling, and I must admit to the very occasional uncoupling for no apparent reason, mostly with Accucraft couplings.

I like shunting wagons etc. and found 3 link couplings to be a bit of fiddle. Also I encountered buffer locking when reversing on curves.

I remove the chopper from one end of each vehicle. They are easier to uncouple with just one chopper, especially vehicles fitted with Accucraft choppers couplings !

I use square and round, it doesn't seem to make a difference.

Round. No idea where the choppy bits are at this moment in time- I took them off- but once they reappear and I can be bothered to get me nutspinners out I'll wing them your way.

many thanks! much appreiceiated. If you want I can swap em for the 3 link couplings that I will be replacing, this offer stands to any one who wants to replace couplingas on accurcaft stock!

Mr. Bond of the DVLR wrote:many thanks! much appreiceiated. If you want I can swap em for the 3 link couplings that I will be replacing, this offer stands to any one who wants to replace couplingas on accurcaft stock!

I need some for my Brandbright GS6 open wagon

Erm, yeah, why not- straight swap seems fair to me! Better find me spanners...

goodo! thanks, no rush!

I'll whip 'em off this weekend and bung them in the post early next week- I want to start stripping the engine down anyway. Gotta shift the gas tank back and swap the drain valve over. PM me your addy!

right ho

Ta!

Did they ever turn up lad? Worried they got lost in the Christmas post/ snow!