John: I think Walthers may not be promoting these couplers for the reason you previously stated - they are larger than Kadee #5's, which themselves are oversize for HO. That may also be the reason they are available at bargain basement prices - once they are gone, we may not see the likes of them again. This is conjecture on my part, I am satisfied with the way they work and interchange with Kadee and SHS.
The outstanding feature of the SHS coupler, at least to me, is the centering spring. It tends to absorb the mechanical pulling shock of getting a car in motion (even the prototype uses some method of absorbing this shock, when backing, the whole car can absorb this shock) which can be beneficial when starting or running long trains. I don't have the experience with SHS couplers, but would a stiffer (or maybe even a softer) centering spring help minimize the jerky operation that some experience? Bob Nicholson __________________________________________ --- In [email protected], "John Degnan" <Scaler164@...> wrote: > > Bob, > > As I've already said... the Walthers coupler is one that I was not aware > of... one that slipped through the cracks... must have come out when I wasn't > looking or was focusing on S, so my comment about all others being JUNK does > not apply to them. > > From the photos of them that I've now seen, they appear to be a good choice > for S over all other AVAILABLE options and for two reasons... their larger > size AND the very small size of the draft gear boxes that come with the item > # 920-6005. The short shank of this item will probably lead to clearance > problems on tight curves if used on diesels that have steps on their pilots, > so one might want to try to retrofit a longer-shanked coupler (item # > 920-6000) into that gear box (if it will fit) for use on diesels. I am > curious about what method is used to re-center that # 920-6005 coupler... is > there a spring of some sort in that little gear box? > > As for reaming out the hole in the draft gear box... not necessary... just > use a smaller screw and tap a new hole in the model. > > > John Degnan > Scaler164@... > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: shabbona_rr > To: [email protected] > Sent: Monday, December 19, 2011 06:32 PM > Subject: Re: {S-Scale List} S-scale couplers > > > I just uploaded three more photos of Walthers couplers, unassembled and > then assembled and installed, starting with: > > > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/S-Scale/photos/album/1775582643/pic/665937085/view?picmode=&mode=tn&order=ordinal&start=1&count=20&dir=asc > > I had to ream out the Short Shank coupler box so it would accept a #2 > mounting screw, other than that they are no different than installing > Kadee's, and, contrary to some perceptions, they are NOT junk! > > Bob Nicholson > > [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: [email protected] [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/
