Gentlemen....Here is a message from way back in December 2011. Ed L.
--- In [email protected], "Edward Loizeaux" <Loizeaux@...> wrote:
>
> As I see it...
>
>
>
> 1. KD#802 has a wider gathering range, fits most recent brass imports,
> costs what it costs, has too much sprung slack action for some, and is a tad
> oversized for S. Many folks dislike the herky-jerky motion that is common
> with these couplers. One fellow solved that
> problem by inserting a small cylindrical object into the middle of the
> centering spring which greatly restricts the slack action he found
> objectionable. The small cylindrical object is from a Kadee coupler set
> (#4?) and is available as a separate piece (I think). Another solution
> popularized by Dick Karnes is to use a knuckle spring as a replacement for
> the centering spring. The weaker knuckle spring becomes fully compressed
> under load and the slack action disappears. The KD#802 is too
> large to fit the popular ACE adaptors which were created long before the
> #802 coupler was born. This is probably the most commonly used coupler in S
> scale today.
>
>
>
> 2. KD#5 (and #3, the RTR version) is the HO standard and works very well if
> you install them correctly and take care to eliminate the side slop between
> axles and sideframes. Many S models have excessive side slop which enables
> the couplers to be off center way too much for reliable coupling. Side slop
> can be eliminated
> with small washers on the axle ends. These couplers fit the ACE AF
> adaptors, older wooden kits, and nearly all narrow gauge models. The
> all-metal KD#5
> easily permits exact 36" spacing between cars and comes with all sorts of
> variations such as long shank, short shank, upper mount knuckles, lower
> mounted knuckles, different size/shaped draft gear boxes, etc. One of the
> many variations can be made to work with darn near any S model ever made. I
> have some in the front pilots of brass steam engines. These couplers are
> less expensive than the Kadee S couplers and mate with them well. This
> used to be the most commonly used coupler in S scale in yesteryear and is
> still liked and used by many.
>
>
>
> 3. Modified KD#5 (longer glad hand) couplers have a problem with the glad
> hand working loose from the knuckle casting itself. It swivels when it
> shouldn't and then the magnetic uncoupling system does not work well since
> the glad hand swings outward, but the knuckle does not. UNmodified Kadee's
> do not have this problem. Modified KD#5 couplers are no longer made
> commercially.
>
>
>
> 4. Walther's new plastic HO couplers are a tad larger than KD#5 and work
> well when new. One
> noticeable difference, however, is that the Walther's coupler has more slack
> action between closed/coupled knuckles than does the Kadee product. While
> the Walter's couplers are not springy like the KD#802s, the large slack
> action between closed knuckles creates a similar effect. One fellow claims
> the trip pin tends to work loose from the plastic knuckle casting after a
> while.
>
>
>
> 5. American Models makes a reasonable appearing dummy plastic coupler that
> is good
> for unit trains and the like. I use them between A and B diesel units for
> positive coupling unaffected by magnets and the like.
>
>
>
> 6. SHS makes a Kadee-compatible coupler that is about the same size as the
> KD#802. It was created to enable close coupling between diesel units, but
> can be used on freight and passenger cars. Works well as far as I know.
>
>
>
> Hope all this helps.
>
>
>
> Cheers..Ed L.
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