Hey Folks,
Looking to buy bulk packs of Kadee couplers. I have various train manufacturers to convert. Can someone recommend a “universal” Kadee item number to suit multi brand trains?
Thank you from Delaware
The #5 is the traditional “standard” and the #148 is the newer whisker coupler.
There are no guarantees they will fit your cars, so instead of listening to some stranger on the Internet, look at the Kadee recommendations http://www.kadee.com/conv/hocc.htm
Make sure you get a Kadee couple height gauge, some Greas-em maybe their thin paper washers. I most of the time use pan head 2-56 screws though a few times I use Walther’s Goo.
A few times I needed to use a thin piece of styrene to lower a coupler.
You might consider a bag of Intermountain machined metal wheels for the trucks. They will roll better and buy a Truck Tuner at the same time.
Look at their tools page.
http://www.kadee.com/conv/hocc.htm
Rich
Henry
thank you for the info. sarcasm not necessary
Rich,
Thank you, very helpful
Depending on the amount of locomotives/rolling stock it is best if you purchase the bulk packages. I, as well, am in the conversion process and purchased the Kadee #14 (which is the #148 whisker coupler in bulk). The #148 is a universal coupler which will last a lifetime.
The only bulk packs of Kadee couplers I have seen in my not so local hobby shops is a pack of #5s. Couplers plus centering spring, no coupler boxes. The #5 fits most (not all) freight cars. I buy 'em. For locomotives and passenger cars, and just to be sure, check the Kadee 'what fits what" guide on their website.
Some cars will be wood, plastic or metal floors. For plastic and metal, I use a 2-56 tap in a pin vise with a separate pin vise for a drill bit if needed.
Get a trip pin tool. Kind of shaped like the curve of the trip pin. A small needle nose plier will work if you are handy with small tools. With too much pressure, the needle nose plier can put a crimp in the trip pin. I know that.
The Kadee height gauge will help a lot when you get the uncoupler magnets set between the rails.
If you have time, a Google question can bring up a lot of suggestions that you can keep the websites in your PC browser.
Rich
It looks like the whisker version is about $1.30 per pair in bulk pack. Just couplers, no boxes, so you might want to buy a 2-pack also for some standard boxes to have on hand. You may find you also want some shorter shank couplers to close couple some items (eg., cab unit diesels). Ditto some long shank, though I’ve rarely used them.
http://www.modeltrainstuff.com/Kadee-HO-Standard-Whisker-Couplers-Bulk-Pack-148-p/kad-14.htm
Here’s a Kadee site. Click on the conversion link for specifics for HO rolling stock.
Sorry if you were offended. It was supposed to be humorous, but sometimes humor on the internet flops in the absence of voice tones and facial expressions.
I did get it though.
Rich
LIONS use DRAWBARS…
48 wheel pickup works wheely good. Powerd Frogs… LION bothers not to power switches at all.
ROAR
Lion, I think the OP is looking for Kadee’s for regular freight cars, not subways or mass transit which generally stay together in units.[;)]
Stratfan,
As others have commented for the past ~50 years, Kadee #5 couples (also come in bulk packs at a cost savings) have been the most commonly used for freight cars such as Athearn, MDC, Accurail, E&C shops, Walthers, Atlas and many others.
I’ve found the bronze centering springs sometimes don’t fit well in some of my Walthers kit cars so I’ve had to do a bit of filing etc. to make them fit better. Add to that sometimes the KD#5 with the bronze spring will bind the coupler shank a bit in Athearn blue box kit cars. For the past ~20 years Kadee has added the whisker version of the #5 which goes by #148; it also comes in bulk and you don’t need the bronze spring with those and they work a little better.
If your prefer, Kadee also makes a closer to scale coupler, the #58, and it comes in whisker versions too. It will mate with the #5 larger head still. Many RTR freight cars such as those from ExactRail and Tangent, come with the smaller scale head Kadee’s which is a real bonus, so they don’t require converions. Same with the RTR HO Kadee freight cars.
Engines are usually where you may need some of the other specialty Kadee couplers. Also Kadee makes “shelf” couplers such as those used on Tank cars which the real tank cars use to avoid puncture.
Since it sounds like you’re starting out new, I would skip even #5s go with the Whiskers. ESPECIALLY if you intend to use delayed uncoupling They work even better than 5s
Most blue box Athearn cars take #5. It is the standard. They sell them in a large package.
For Tyco, Lifelike, and old Bachmann with talgo (truck mounted couplers) you can replace the coupler with #26 or you can cut off the coupler mount from the truck and mount a #5 in the box with a small styrene shim, as a spacer, to the body. That is the prefered method to avoid derailments while backing up.
For any cars which a #5 is to high or low instead use #22 or #27.
I hope this helps.
j…
A stranger from the internet. lol