Marklin Caboose Conversion

I'm sure it's been asked before, but I'm going to ask it again. I have two Marklin caboose I want to convert the couplers. Besides using the conversion kit available on the market... is there another way of doing this? Any hints, tips, photos will be greatly appreciated.

ThankZ!

It's not only about the coupler, you need to replace the trucks too.
If so, the conversion kit you can get from Anthony is still using the same mounting points than the Marklin trucks. The trucks need to be moved further to the ends and a new bolster needs to be put in place to make it right. This is how it should look like: zettzeit.ch/ZZ02006_E.html
There was an instruction on Freudenreich's website, but it was removed after the last update.

(Third time is the charm)

Hi Alex,

If all you want to do is replace the couplers and not re-locate the trucks, it's fairly simple. Pop the trucks out of the chassis and remove the Marklin coupler box. Be sure to leave the little fingers that hold the axles in place. You'll also need to remove the little tab that hangs off the bottom of the railing so that you can mount the new coupler flush with the bottom of the caboose. Then just drill and tap a hole in the proper place for a new MTL body-mount coupler and install it.
This puts the couplers at the right height also.



I hope this helps,
Thom

Thom, When changing couplers it look as if the end of the inside of the coupler box may hit the wheels on a tight turn or is it just the photo? I have 3 marklin caboose's that I need to change. I have one small curve on the layout. So have you tested it on the smallest curve? Thanks for the information!

Replacing the trucks and relocating the mount point requires a rebuild of the bottom of the car either with the conversion kit from Anthony which adds weight to the car or using styrene strips to create a new center beam with new truck bolsters. I have rebuilt 6 caboose and have shortened another pair and rebuilt the under frame on each one and mounted them on Micro Trains trucks with body mounted couplers. With the materials on hand it takes me an evening to do three of them. I have seen Zelatory conversions and they are the easiest way I have seen to convert these beasts.

regards Garth

Walt,

Just the very corners of the trucks hit the back of the coupler box. You could, probably, cut the backs off of the coupler boxes to allow the trucks to rotate completely around. I just tested this caboose on some small-radius track and it works fine on all of them. I tested it on the smallest Marklin curve (8510), and the 2 smallest Rokuhan radius curves. The trucks rotate on all of these curves without hitting the coupler box. The overhang on the tightest radius curves might be an issue but the trucks swing enough to negotiate all of the small radius curves.

Have fun,
Thom