Kadee Couplers.....why hate them....?

[Ted_Doskaris]

Thank you Bob,

“…Bachmann Spectrum coupler box with Kadee ‘G’ coupler installed aligned with Kadee ‘G’ coupler height gauge…”

From looking at the above picture, this coupler aligns with the Kadee 880 gauge because the Bachmann Spectrum coupler knuckle appears to have a downward offset with respect to its shank.

In contrast, American Main Line (AML) couplers that are optionally supplied with some of their cars for body mounting also resemble Kadee 830/906s boxes - but these have an upward knuckle offset - shown below.

The AML boxes can be adapted to accept the Kadee coupler. This was done out of curiosity as an experiment described in vignette:
AML Wood Side Reefer Fitted with Kadee 900 Couplers In AML Boxes

In the case of misaligned couplers, they are prone to separate in long heavy trains or when trains are operated on uneven track work. Also, Kadee couplers, if misaligned low, can result in their trip pins striking track work, though the pins can be re bent. When the Kadee coupler aligns with the Kadee gauge, its trip pin typically does not have to be re bent.

-Ted

[Bob_Cope (Curmudgeon at Large)]

Ted, I can only speak from a rumor mill perspective, but it was my understanding that somewhere back in the annals of time, Bachmann was originally going to release the Spectrum line with Kadee ‘G’ couplers from the factory. If that is true then the inter changeability between Bachmann Spectrum and Kadee couplers is a no brainer. All I do know is it works for me. (https://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-laughing.gif)

[freddy (Fred Mills)]

In about 99.9% of all cases, if the Kadee Coupler “Tail” is found to be touching the rails, or is below the suggested position; the coupler has not been mounted properly.

That tail, is always a good indicator of the need for coupler maintenance, if it falls below the proper position. I never cut them off, and don’t have any problems with them.

If I find someone else’s car, with the tails cut off, I immediately check the coupler for height, and secure mounting, and in most cases someone didn’t take the trouble to properly mount the coupler properly, or use a Kadee height gauge.

[David_Maynard1 (David Maynard)]

Fred Mills. said:

In about 99.9% of all cases, if the Kadee Coupler “Tail” is found to be touching the rails, or is below the suggested position; the coupler has not been mounted properly.

That tail, is always a good indicator of the need for coupler maintenance, if it falls below the proper position. I never cut them off, and don’t have any problems with them.

If I find someone else’s car, with the tails cut off, I immediately check the coupler for height, and secure mounting, and in most cases someone didn’t take the trouble to properly mount the coupler properly, or use a Kadee height gauge.

The height gauge is essential for setting the couplers to the proper height. Sometimes I have had to bend up the trip pins to have them 1/8th inch above the rail head, even when the coupler was at the proper height.

Someone gave me a batch of KaDees one time because they were “junk”. Here the person had put grease in the coupler gearboxes, and that caused the couplers to not work properly. After I cleaned out that grease, and lubricated them with a powdered lubricant, they worked just fine. Read and follow the directions, securely mount them at the proper height (using a KaDee gauge), make sure the trip pins are at the proper height (so they don’t snag on track-work), and periodically check them to make sure they haven’t become loose, bound up, nor damaged, and they will work just fine.

[Rick_Marty]

Fred Mills. said:

In about 99.9% of all cases, if the Kadee Coupler “Tail” is found to be touching the rails, or is below the suggested position; the coupler has not been mounted properly.

That tail, is always a good indicator of the need for coupler maintenance, if it falls below the proper position. I never cut them off, and don’t have any problems with them.

If I find someone else’s car, with the tails cut off, I immediately check the coupler for height, and secure mounting, and in most cases someone didn’t take the trouble to properly mount the coupler properly, or use a Kadee height gauge.

Yes but, some of us cut them off because we have no use for them nor like the looks of them. Cutting that tail off the coupler doesn’t mean we don’t know how to correctly mount a coupler to a proper height(https://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-laughing.gif)

[Rooster]

Bob Cope said:

Kadee coupler box with Bachmann Spectrum coupler installed.

Kadee coupler box with Bachmann Spectrum coupler installed aligned with Kadee ‘G’ coupler height gauge.

Bachmann Spectrum coupler box with Kadee ‘G’ coupler installed.

Bachmann Spectrum coupler box with Kadee ‘G’ coupler installed aligned with Kadee ‘G’ coupler height gauge.

There does seem to be some thickness difference in the top of the coupler box between the Kadee and Spectrum box but I have run this these cars with the mixed assemblies with no issues.

And lastly for Rooster’s pleasure, here is the #779 Sill mounted coupler on a Hartland Linecar.

The Kadee sill mounts work very well but nothing will move in these pics without catenary or a diesel ?

[Bob_Cope (Curmudgeon at Large)]

Rooster, the outside third rail wiskers are on the other end of the Line Car, and the tank cars are narrow gauge. I don’t think you own any narrow gauge diesels.