I’ve been collecting train cars for two years - mostly Kadee and Proto 2000 units. This past year I’ve been buying brass units from Overland, Chalenger, Railroad Classics, etc. Problem is - most come without couplers. What does one do - I see Kaddee #5s and is there #58s in Model Railroad Magazine, but not sure what the process is to buy these items.Kadee’s website has a #78 as of July 18th which looks like a fully assembled unit. Do I need special tools? And what’s this magnetic uncoupler unit all about? I get the concept, but have not laid any track other than a club module. Is one better than another? I’ve seen electric uncouplers in the train shops. Anyone care to give me any advice?
For starters, review the suggestions at the following.
http://forum.atlasrr.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=1487
Yes, you will need a KD coupler height gauge & trip pin tool.
Can’t help on the uncouplers but should you have an
unanswered question/difficulity with a car/coupler
go to the site, www.kadee.com,scroll down to Company infor, click on contact infor, click E-Mail and their response form pops up.
Send your question(s) to Sam Clarke, Coupler Conversion Specialist and if they are not on vacation, you should receive a reply within 24 business hours.
He can also bring you up to speed on the #78.
This is what he gets paid for, so please ask.
If the other responses haven’t answered your questions:
If you plan to do much operating, you will need to uncouple the kadees. You can do this by either putting a very small screwdriver or similar between the knuckles and twisting it clockwise to separate them, or you can use magnets to pull the metal pins below the couplings away from each other. Kadee makes two forms of this - permanent magnet and electromagnet. The permanent magnet is cheaper, but you can get accidental uncouplings if the cars come together over the magnet. I’m not sure I’ve seen the electromagnets in use; I think I have one in my boxes of bits.
You should be able to get Kadees at the same shops where you get your locomotives. Kadee has a list of which couplings to fit to what, but it may not include all the brass.
For tools, you will need a small screwdriver. A small set of long nose pliers and a file will also be useful. If the hole on the car doesn’t have threads or doesn’t exist, you need a drill, tap and pin vise.
Kadee sells assembled couplers for an additional price; I don’t find it worth it.
–David
One all of my cars I have Kadee #5’s. And they seem to work the best going over the uncouplers at my club. And uncouplers are a magnet you can buy at a local hobby shop. You put them on the ties of the rail in any spot you want to.
I can uncouple my cars at any place at any time and it never fails,plus I don’t have to install any uncouplers. Thats because I uncouple by hand.