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An MR quick look: Kadee HO scale whisker couplers
I would have thought that the 158 was the replacement for the number 5 coupler?
used em love em
I have switched to the wisker couplers on my unit trains of 30 cars each. I have unit hoppers, reefers, tank cars, stock cars, plus regular freight trains. I am getting ready to install on all passenger equipment, most tain lengths of 14 full length 85’. My freight cars include accurail, & Athearn among others. All coupler pockets were drilled and taped for security, plenty of work, but worth the effort. I was tired of playing with the extra metal insert getting bent or snagged.
Haven’t tried them yet,but looks interesting.Will try them one my next car ki8t.
It’s nice but at some point we have to drop backward compatibility. These deserve a closer to scale width box to improve the looks of the car’s end.
I have installed them on some freight cars and passenger cars. They work great. Much better than the old copper plate with the bent up sides.
The new “whiskers” are especially useful when the coupler box’s inside vertical distance is too small to allow the #5 in its flat spring to move freely horizontally. Case in point: the new Roundhouse Pfaudler milk tanks. I hope that Kadee will bring out their whole series of “original” (non-“scale-head”) couplers in three lengths and three shank-locations (overset, middle, and underset). There is still nothing like a Kadee.
I ALWAYS SWORE BY KADEE COUPLERS BEFORE AND TRIED THESE WHISKERS AND NOW THEY ARE THE ONLY THING I BUY AND USE. THEY REALLY ARE FANTASTIC. THANKS KADEE FOR AN OUTSTANDING PRODUCT !!!
Dana:
Compare your review comments above to Kadee’s website at http://www.kadee.com/htmbord/page24.htm. It appears the Medium shank is no. 158 rather than no. 156.
I’ve tried them and find that they are just what the modelers need. They help to diminish the characteristic “droop” that so often occurs
great for roll stock on layout . thanks you
I switched out all old #5s for #158s love em, look better, work better, very easy to install compaird to old #5s wont use anything else from now on. nice job kadee!
Nothing like a Kadee coupler. I’ve retro-fitted many cars from various manufacturers with Kadee couplers. Didn’t think the reliable #5 could be improved on. That said, I’m anxious to give the 158 coupler a try.
Will thse new whisker couplers work to refro-fit the Walthers heave weight passenger cars. Specifically I received the MOW heavy weights for Christmas and the existing couplers hace a very long shank.
Our club requires Kadee couplers.
Thanks and Happy New Year.