----- Original Message ----- From: Ed To: [email protected] Sent: Friday, September 14, 2012 01:10 PM Subject: Re: {S-Scale List} Kadee reliability
> (1) they do not always couple on the first try when coupling on curves or too close to turnouts or changes in radius, With the broad curves on my layout, coupling on curves is not an issue. Unfortunately not everyone has the luxury of having enough room to incorporate broad curves into their layouts. Normally I do not couple or uncouple over turnouts, so that is not an issue either Same here... but there are situations where it be necessary. >(2) the often-discussed issue with their magnematic operation where they often fail to DISconnect as they should over magnets. This has never been a problem for me. Although, to be honest, I use stronger-than-normal magnets. Simply not a problem. Without proper lubrication and with a weak magnet, wimpy disconnecting could be an issue. But it can be solved. Not a common thing with me either... but still a trait of the coupler. > I have also heard of Kadee couplers in HO and S occasionally and unwantedly UNcoupling at random over fixed magnets when the trains pass over them If your locos tend to herky-jerk (aka hiccup) at slow speeds, it is possible to create slack between couplers and if they happen to be over a magnet then uncoupling will happen. With good smooth-running locos and clean track, this is not a problem. Even if it does happen, simply backing up and recoupling is possible and nothing serious has happened anyway. I have found that it can also happen in the areas of slightly changing grades or when merely slowing a train down. > Then there is the obvious problem where they fail to look and operate like a real 1:1 coupler... Actually, they operate better than the real 1:1 coupler. No need to manually inspect/position the couplers before coupling. Automatic centering is a good feature and it would be most annoying to live without it in the model railroad realm. I wholehearterly agree... and this is the reason I developed the centering method for use (in my draft gear boxes) with Sergent couplers. This may cause cardiac arrest amongst those who think I strive for complete, prototypical perfection, but I do believe that there are SOME areas where protptypical perfection is not a good thing... and this is one of them - I would MUCH rather have a coupler that centers itself than one that acts like prototypes. Another way of looking at this is there is nothing any better currently commercially available. No... not YET. :) Perhaps Kadees are not quite perfect at all times, but being darn good with nothing better available makes for a good reason to use them. And that was all I was saying from the start. So I believe we actually agree. How many of us have OPERATING couplers that are not Kadee? I have three... not counting the few OLD Sergent couplers I still have lying around. Cheers...Ed L. A toast to common ground. John Degnan [email protected] [email protected]
