I have some old Tyco rolling stock that doesn't want to connect very well or fast to new rolling stock. Can anyone tell me if I can easily remove the old couplers and add new ones? If so, what coupler types work best?
There is a HO forum, by the way.
There is no best, only what works best for you.
I mostly use Kadee but there are different types in the Kadee line.
The #5 are over size for one thing.
I used the Kadee 711 old time couplers for my old Tyco and Bachmann old time cars. They are more to scale.
All I had to do was cut off the truck mounted couplers.
I use a couple 0-8-0 screws for attaching. Sometimes a single 2-56 screw but it is easy to put the screw in too tight and bind the coupler.
The Kadee site has all the info you need.
The couplers used on Bachmann cars are pretty good.
Sergent Engineering couplers are good also.
Others here will have comments on what they use.
Rich
Big Jim : If your Tyco cars are equipped with the old " horn hook " couplers , these can be removed and replaced . The question becomes " How much work you are willing to do on your upgrade ? " "Knuckle couplers" manufactured by Bachmann or also By Kadee are available to replace your existing couplers . If your coupler boxes are mounted to the trucks or 'talgo' style you will be able to replace the coupler directly , but you will need a coupler height gage to determine whether the couplers will interface with your other rolling stock . Height gages are available at Kadee's web sight and also at Micro-Mark . Converting to frame mounted coupler boxes is more complicated but still doeable . The main advantage of frame mounted is that they are more proto-typical and they allow for backing up the cars without decoupling . The talgo mounts allow for greater ability to operate over the much tighter turning radii of our unprototypically layouts . If you search this forum there are several excellent postings of the process of conversion . A good number of people swear by the Kadee # 5 as one of the premier replacements , but check with Kadee for their recommendations. I Hope this begins to answer your question , there is a lot of information out there . Good Luck J2.