Bachmann HO Scale Coupler Conversions

The perfect solution for all of your coupler woes. Thanks to our extensive list of HO Scale coupler conversions, it's easier than ever to fit Kadee® Couplers onto your locomotives and rolling stock. Our conversions typically require the least modification to your model, and the How-To Instructions and diagrams make fitting your new couplers a breeze. Remember to always check your coupler heights with our #206 Coupler Height Gauge. We've done the hard work for you, so find the perfect coupler in the list below.*

	Whisker® Metal Coupler	Standard Coupler	Other Coupler Options
0-6-0 USRA Switcher (late)		#34 Pilot #33 Tender
0-6-0 USRA Switcher (newer)	#148	#5 (NO.5®)	#28, #58 or #118, #119, #158
2-6-2 Prairie	#148	#5 (NO.5®)	Any Medium Centerset Coupler
2-8-0 Consolidation	#148	#5 (NO.5®)	#28, #58 or #118, #119, #158
2-8-2 Mikado	#148	#5 (NO.5®)	Any Medium Centerset Coupler
2-10-4 Texas	#148	#5 (NO.5®)	Any Medium Centerset Coupler
4-4-0 American & Jupiter (older) (Tender only)	#148	#5 (NO.5®)	#28, #58 or #118, #119, #158
4-4-0 American & Jupiter (newer) (Tender only)		#33
4-8-4 GS4 (Tender only)		#37
Steam Locomotives with Factory Knuckle Couplers	#148		Any Medium Centerset Coupler
2-10-0 Russian Decapod 2-6-2 Prairie 2-8-4 Berkshire 4-6-2 USRA Light Pacific American 4-4-0 Baldwin 2-8-0 Consolidation Baldwin 4-6-0 GS4 4-8-4 N&W Class J 4-8-4 USRA 0-6-0 USRA Light Mikado 2-8-2
EMD F-9		#37
EMD F-45		#37
EMD GP-18		#28
EMD GP-40		#37
EMD GP-50		#37
EMD SD-40-2		#27
GE B 30-7		#33
GE E-60-CP Electric (Amtrak)		#38
GE U-36-B		#37
Plymouth 35 Ton Switcher		#37	#147 in a #252 Gearbox
Diesel Locomotives with Factory Knuckle Couplers	#148		Any Medium Centerset Coupler
ALC-42 Diesel Electric Charger SC-44 Diesel-Electric EMD E7-A EMD F-7 A & B EMD SD70ACE GE ES44AC GP38-2 GP40 SD40-2 GG-1 Siemens ACS-64
All Freight Cars (Generic)	#148	#37 Truck Mount #5 (NO.5®)	<#147 Truck Mount in a #252 Gearbox
40' Steam Era Box Car 50' Plug Door 50' Sliding Door ACF 50.5' Outside Braced Evans All-Door FRED 50' Outside Braced Box Car Hi-Cube Box Car w/ Sliding Door Old Time Box Car
Box Car, 56’ All Door		#38	#148 or #158 in a #252 Gearbox
All Cabooses		#37	#147 in a #252 Gearbox
Crane Car (Lifting)		#27
Freight Cars with Factory Knuckle Couplers	#148		Any Medium Centerset Coupler
52' Center-Beam Flatcar 52' Center-Depressed 52' Flat Car 52ft Flat Car w/ 35ft Trailer ACF 40' Log Car 40' Gondola 50'6" Drop-End Gondola 4 Bay Cylindrical Grain 40' Quad 55-Ton 2-Bay USRA Outside Braced 56' ACF Center-Flow Bethlehem Steel 100 Ton 3 Bay Canadian Grain Hoppers w/FRED PS-2 Covered Hopper 250-Ton Crane & Boom Tender Blacksmith Car Derrick Car Ore Car Poultry Transport Car Refrigerated Box Cars 40 FT Wood-side Refrigerated 50' Steel Reefer Track Cleaning Wood-Side Reefer Schnabel Car 40' Animated Stock Car 40' Stock Car 40' Single-Dome Tank Car 40' Three-Dome Tank Car Old-Time Tank Car Track-Cleaning Tank Car Test Weight Cars
Budd 85’ Coach		#38 Truck Mount #454
Passenger Cars 85’		#37 #454
Passenger Cars with Factory Knuckle Couplers	#148		Any Medium Centerset Coupler
1860 - 1880 Era Passenger Car 85' Budd Amfleet 85' Budd Full Dome 89' Colorado Railcar Full-Dome Acela® BusinessClass Car Heavyweight Cars Jackson Sharp Open Excursion Car Open-Sided Excursion Car Smooth-Side Cars
Hogwarts Express - Locomotive and Tender		#36 Pilot #19 Tender	#148 Pilot in a #252 Gearbox
Hogwarts Express - Cars		#17 in a #508 Bracket
Thomas the Tank Engine - Thomas		#20	#148 in a #252 Gearbox
Thomas the Tank Engine - James		#20 #38	#148 in a #252 Gearbox
Thomas the Tank Engine - Most Cars		#20	#148 in a #252 Gearbox
Electric Train Sets with Factory Knuckle Couplers	#148		Any Medium Centerset Coupler
Canyon Chief Chattanooga Chessie Special Coastliner Digital Commander Durango & Silverton Echo Valley Express Harvest Express Jingle Bell Express McKinley Explorer Norman Rockwell Freedom Train North Pole Express Overland Limited Pacific Flyer Rail Chief Ringling Bros. & Barnum & Bailey™ Greatest Show on Earth Santa Fe Flyer Strike Force Thoroughbred Thunder Chief

Anywhere a NO.5® is listed, the #28, #58 or #118, #119, #158, #148 Whisker® Coupler can be used in its place.

Newer models that have factory-installed knuckle couplers are easily converted by using our standard head #148 or scale head #158 Whisker® Couplers.
If you need a longer coupler, use the #146 or scale head #156 Whisker® Coupler.

Shallow cast-on gearbox fix: If you have a Kadee® Coupler that is not moving freely back and forth in a shallow cast-on gearbox. This is because some clone knuckle coupler manufacturers started molding shallow cast-on gearboxes on their models to try to fix the problems with their drooping clone knuckle couplers. The fix is a simple one. You have to file the top of the coupler shank a few strokes with a file, usually just enough to remove the black coloring to make the Kadee coupler function correctly in the non-standard shallow cast-on gearbox.

*Our conversions are based on only one model from a production run; there may be inconsistencies in a model’s production run that require a different coupler or model modifications to achieve the proper coupler height for coupler function.

** Metal Coupler Note: It is not recommended to use a metal coupler directly on a metal surface to avoid the possible electrical crossover or shorting that may cause damage.

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Bachmann HO Scale Coupler Conversions