Hi,

Just repaired a €15 early V200(3021).

I got it from eBay and it arrived with no couplers.



I'd like to install some couplers (or NEM sockets) on it. But don't think original parts are available (and if they are, I don't want to spend more money on the couplers than on the whole loc).

Have any of you replaced original couplers by "custom" ones?

Hi,

I've just noticed something.



Other than the missing couplers and the LED lighting, which are obvious differences between these two locomotives, and were not there when the models were first sold, the one at the left has a "thick" grey line while the one at the right shows three thin lines.

Both are supposed (?) to be early (1958/59) models (only two lights), but even the casting is different. The one at the right is showing some casting burrs also.

Do these details indicate something? (i.e. one being a '58 and the other a '59)?
Thanks.

Hi Steven,

Of course. Here you are:





Matt, I've found that original couplers are still available (as Troy says, part nr is 21166 and it's in green color at Märklin service website as part nr. 211660), and are not that expensive, so I'll take the easy way. I assumed that these parts would not be available, but it's not the case. Anyway many thanks for your help and for your cleaning tips.

Actually all parts but rotor&motor cover were thorougly cleaned with soapy water, so all dirt is removed, even if it doesn't seem so. For motor block, gears & wheels I used some degreasing fluid and a toothbrush.

I bought this one as a parts loco in a local ebay auction, seller stated it was a non-runner, and I purchased it mainly because it had been at some point converted to 2-rail (so it had the Hamo-magnet fitted) and I planned to use the magnet for some digital conversion and keep the other usable parts for spares.

It was in very bad condition . It was incomplete (wires pulled out, two missing bulbs), paintjob was (and actually is) in quite bad condition, had marks everywhere (yellow paint, white paint), absolutely all sheetmetal parts were bent (and this loco has a lot of sheetmetal parts: frame, bogies, lower cover), wheels had been pushed so inner wheel distance was not OK, there was dry glue everywhere, and there were huge black marks in the inner side of the body, like if somebody had launched a firecracker inside. Actually the windows still show some black-ish appearance.

To be honest, I did not expect it to run again, and that's the reason why I did not take pictures. But after having dissassembled it, and little by little, I found that everything could be fixed, and even if quite roughly, the motor worked when was fed directly. So actually, other than the decoder, slider, motor foams, LED+resistors and some wires, it keeps its original parts (including brushes!). And now it runs soooooooo smoothly you would never tell it had been so much mistreated in the past.

Seatrains, I find that these "rescue" jobs are the most exciting part of the hobby. Even more if the "rescued" lady has already turned 50!

Thanks & best regards.