Does this stationary coupler have some play in it at the actual coupler or is it part of the shank and there is no side to side play in the coupler itself?
http://www.kadee.com/htmbord/page823.htm
Anybody know the answer to this? I’d like to buy a bunch of them at $5.50 a pair, but they’d be useless to me if stationary means stationary and the coupler doesn’t pivot on the shank. I hope I’m being clear.
Looks to me like there is no side-to-side play. It’s a straight shank with a coupler on the end.
That would be my guess. The shank on the 831 has a hole in it, and tabs that capture springs so it can pivot. This thing doesn’t, so my take would be the head and shank are one piece, like the other KaDees, and does not pivot. Maybe that’s why they called it a “stationary coupler” because its like, stationary.
If I remember correctly, that 823 coupler has a blank shank and is meant for anyone who wants to modify a coupler for their own idea for a mount, pivoting or not. You can drill the shank to suit yourself.
If in doubt, just pick up that old forgotten tool, called a “Telephone” and call “Sam” at Kadee. He will gladly help you out with answers for your questions.
Fred Mills
There is no type of draft gear with the 823 coupler. The guys around here find that RLD hobbies have the best price on Kadee couplers lately, if cost is your main concern. They also seem to have a good inventory. Train World may also have good prices.
I guess a fair question would be: “What are you trying to mount the couplers on ?”. I find that 820’s usually work in most situations, having mounted over 5- 600, over many years.
I used to use the #822 coupler, which is the same thing but with a thinner shank. What I did was drill a hole in the center of the shank about 1/4" from the back end. I used this to mount the coupler to a coupler pad on the car. The coupler would pivot around the screw, with the side-to-side play set by the coupler pocket on the car itself. If there is no pocket, I’d bend some wire in a “U” shape to create one.
The coupler comes with a thin bit of springwire that can be used for centering. Typically I’d drill a small hole in the rear of the coupler and insert the spring so it stuck out like a tail. Then on the coupler pad, I’d put a tab of styrene with a small hole drilled through it. The “tail” gets threaded through that, and centers the coupler. (I know, a picture is worth 1000 words, but I use the standard #820 on my stuff here.)
Later,
K
Yeah, thanks for the responses guys. I guess I’ll stick to the 920s I use (they’re the red version of the 820). Trainz has them for $9.45. No go. Mark at Silver State has one on ebay for $4.99 plus $3.50 shipping from an estate, so I’ll see how many he actually has. Trainworld has them for $7.75…maybe he’d give me free shipping if I bought enough. Everybody else seems to be over $10, sometimes plus $3-$4 shipping each.
RLD has the new Kadee 1906R for $7.30 and $15 shipping for 30 sets, which brings it to $7.80 obviously.
Has anyone used the “new” Kadee version of the 820/920? Can you give me your opinion? (I think I saw a discussion about this somewhere around here, but I can’t find it.)
Thanks again guys.
edit: actually I see that Reindeer Pass has the 906R for $6.89 plus $12.45 for shipping for thirty sets…
Fred Mills, and Ben T. Conrod Esq. said:
If in doubt, just pick up that old forgotten tool, called a “Telephone” …
I got one of those Fred, with a dial no less. When I told my daughter’s friend to call her mom to come and pick her up, the girl looked at it with a blank stare and didn’t seem to understand you have to pick up the receiver to start the process of calling, let alone turn that funny round thing with the holes and letters and numbers around the edge.
Have you used the new 109 Kadee replacement fort th 820/920?
John;
I think you mean the “1906”(for #1 Scale)…or the 906 (For G Scale)…yes, I have used them, and they work well with the old style.(820)
…and yes they are available in rust colour also…
The new style Kadee couplers look much better, without the knuckle spring showing…a great improvement.
My old dial telephone still works well too…!!
Fred Mills
Fred Mills, and Ben T. Conrod Esq. said:
John;
I think you mean the “1906”(for #1 Scale)…or the 906 (For G Scale)…yes, I have used them, and they work well with the old style.(820)
…and yes they are available in rust colour also…
The new style Kadee couplers look much better, without the knuckle spring showing…a great improvement.
My old dial telephone still works well too…!!
Fred Mills
Thanks Fred, I appreciate it. Reindeer Pass it is then !
WOW! Rene at Reindeer Pass is REALLY a nice lady, and very very accommodating. Great experience !
If all you have is Kadee couplers, you should be okay with the new-style Kadee #1 couplers. I’ve got mixed results with them. I like the aesthetics, but they’re just a bit smaller than the original couplers, particularly the knuckle. I have a mixture of Kadee #1 and AMS 1:32 couplers, and the smaller, newer knuckle will slip through the AMS knuckle if there’s enough drag on the train. They’re fine with the older Kadees.
Later,
K
Interesting Kevin. I didn’t know that.