I just purchased my first Accurail boxcar.
Does anyone have an opinion on the couplers that come with Accurail cars?
just wondering
Gord
Replace them with Kadees.
They’re better than the plastic-spring EZ-Mates, but not as good as anything with a real metal spring.
yep, i agree, replace with kadees
I find them one of the best operating substitute knuckle type couplers out there, but I agree with the others, use good ol’ Kadees. They are much superior.
While the Accumate couplers don’t have all the same problems as the plastic Kadee clones (the ones that forego a separate knuckle spring in favor of a cast-on plastic sliver), they aren’t perfect. I test-equipped several cars with them and have replaced most with Kadees.
My operators complained that the Accumates required too much force to couple while switching and didn’t uncouple as easily as they should when using bamboo skewer uncoupling picks (our preferred method).
The big problem was that Accumates tend to jam open when pushed around even large radius curves. This little issue manifested itself with any car over about 60 scale feet long (due to slight draft gear overhang on curves) with slack running in on a down grade or during switching moves. The separate halves of the coupler shanks reacted to the sideways pressure by wedging open. With 85 foot auto parts boxcars the situation was hopeless. I was told by a friend with connections within Accurail that the company was aware of the problem a couple of years ago, but haven’t heard about a correction being implemented.
The first thing I throw away with an Accurail kit is the couplers!!!
Any other knuckle coupler is better than that supplied.
My personal preference is McHenry. I find Kadees too fiddly to put together
Tim T
[:D]
I’ll say this - I like them better than any other plastic couplers. All that means, though, is that I actually have two pairs or Accumates still in service. They’ll be replaced with Kadees teh next time the cars cross my workbench.
Good for plastic couplers, but I’m retiring all plastic couplers from my fleet in favour of Kadees. I experimented, but the experiment was a failure.
I’ve only got 2 kinds of plastic couplers in service.
-
EZ-Mate II’s (With the real spring). I have these on my MDC 50’ Heavyweights. They fit the coupler box, Kadees don’t and these cars are rarely actually run.
-
Proto2000 Couplers. These things practically ARE Kadees. Had good luck with them.
Ireplace everything else with Kadees, especially the Athearn and Accurail cars.
I just purchased my first Accurail boxcar.
Does anyone have an opinion on the couplers that come with Accurail cars?
just wondering
Gord
Replace them with Kadees.
They’re better than the plastic-spring EZ-Mates, but not as good as anything with a real metal spring.
yep, i agree, replace with kadees
I find them one of the best operating substitute knuckle type couplers out there, but I agree with the others, use good ol’ Kadees. They are much superior.
While the Accumate couplers don’t have all the same problems as the plastic Kadee clones (the ones that forego a separate knuckle spring in favor of a cast-on plastic sliver), they aren’t perfect. I test-equipped several cars with them and have replaced most with Kadees.
My operators complained that the Accumates required too much force to couple while switching and didn’t uncouple as easily as they should when using bamboo skewer uncoupling picks (our preferred method).
The big problem was that Accumates tend to jam open when pushed around even large radius curves. This little issue manifested itself with any car over about 60 scale feet long (due to slight draft gear overhang on curves) with slack running in on a down grade or during switching moves. The separate halves of the coupler shanks reacted to the sideways pressure by wedging open. With 85 foot auto parts boxcars the situation was hopeless. I was told by a friend with connections within Accurail that the company was aware of the problem a couple of years ago, but haven’t heard about a correction being implemented.
The first thing I throw away with an Accurail kit is the couplers!!!
Any other knuckle coupler is better than that supplied.
My personal preference is McHenry. I find Kadees too fiddly to put together
Tim T
[:D]
I’ll say this - I like them better than any other plastic couplers. All that means, though, is that I actually have two pairs or Accumates still in service. They’ll be replaced with Kadees teh next time the cars cross my workbench.
Good for plastic couplers, but I’m retiring all plastic couplers from my fleet in favour of Kadees. I experimented, but the experiment was a failure.
I’ve only got 2 kinds of plastic couplers in service.
-
EZ-Mate II’s (With the real spring). I have these on my MDC 50’ Heavyweights. They fit the coupler box, Kadees don’t and these cars are rarely actually run.
-
Proto2000 Couplers. These things practically ARE Kadees. Had good luck with them.
Ireplace everything else with Kadees, especially the Athearn and Accurail cars.