They were originally thought to work with 18" radius (HO track) and some have used them with 15" radius. This is no problem with "Talgo" mounted couplers, i.e. truck mounted to swivel with truck. For body mount 18"sould be considered the min. Of course uncoupling in a curve of 18" may require some assistance by hand with a small stick or screwdriver, uncoupling may work fine depending on length of car...the longer the car the more extreem the overhang and sideway pressures..leading to derailments. Usually the limit is 40' cars with body mounted couplers. There are exceptions, and a #5 can be body mounted in such a way as to allow it to swivel about the center mounting screw and can have a centering spring/wire to keep coupler alighned to center. The kadee NEM style HO cpupler was designed for European type cars and coupler mounting, some of which have swivel/centering coupler mountings.
One of the tricks with Kadee uncoupling is try to provide a straight track section (aprox. 6" to 12") where uncoupling is desired. This is especially important if you want to use the "delayed uncoupling" feature...this allows the car and couplers to straighten out and align themselves correctly over the magnetic uncoupler pad when backing away and then re-engaging in the delayed position, to spot a car on a siding. If you are modeling in Sn3/2 or Meter gauge etc. the #5 should not be a problem at all, in full 4'-81/2" standard S gauge the coupler trip pin wire is a bit to short. In any case the distance between top of rail and bottom side of trip pin should never be less than 1/32" and not more than 1/16". Some years ago, I worked for years at Kadee Quality Products and was involved with most of their coupler design and mounting instructions, as well as in charge of all the graphic work and advertising. I DO NOT SPEAK ON THEIR BEHALF OR SUPPORT THEIR PRODUCTS IN ANY WAY. Hope this is of some benefit, cordially Dr. K. Loeb (Peter) ----- Original Message ----- From: Don MacDougall To: [email protected] Sent: Wednesday, November 15, 2006 5:01 AM Subject: {S-Scale List} KD no5s Hi Guys, Out of curiosity can someone tell me what the minimum radius you can use when using these couplers as oposed to 802s ? Thanks in advance, Don MacDougall, London, UK. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/S-Scale/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/S-Scale/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
