Just to keep this coupler debate going, I have posted some photos of the Walther's and Kadee coupler comparisons for those who can't seem to afford the cost of a pair to inspect them for themselves. Disclaimer! Walthers couplers are NOT plastic; otherwise I wouldn't use them
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/S-Scale/photos/album/1775582643/pic/list?mode=tn&order=ordinal&start=21&count=20&dir=asc boB Nicholson (whose modeling efforts hve been lethargic, lately) --- In [email protected], "Ed" <Loizeaux@...> wrote: > > 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. > ------------------------------------ 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/
