I have an old HO Atlas RS-11 and the couplers (Kadee # 5’s) mount too high. Is there a simple solution for this or is body surgery on the diesel required? I hope I just don’t know the simple solution. Any help would be appreciated.
Hi, i’m in n scale but having started in HO, I remember when having that problem I could use a special shank KD coupler that usually would solve the problem. It looked just like a regular KD no.5 but the shank was at the very top of the coupler and that would lower it enough to couple just fine with other locos or rolling stock.I don’t have the no. of it but you should be able to find it on Kadee’s web site or ask at your local hobby shop. Hope this helps, Ralph
Try the #142 Kadee, it an overset (high shank) but standard length ‘whisker coupler’.
Mark H
An Atlas RS-11 should be at the correct height for a #5 Kadee coupler. If it’s not, make sure the body is fully seated. Also check with a Kadee Height gauge not other cars, as the cars maybe at the incorrect height. I have 5 RS-11s and have never had to make any adjustments for height to any of them.
Hi erinmore:
Welcome to the forum!![#welcome]
As has already been mentioned, Kadee makes couplers with both overset and underset shanks. In your case you want an overset shank (i.e. the shank is mounted higher on the coupler making the coupler lower than the ‘centerset’ #5)
I checked the Kadee website conversion chart http://www.kadee.com/conv/hocc_atlas.htm and it calls for a centerset shank. I’m not familiar with the Atlas RS-11 but I do have an older yellow box Atlas RS-3. My RS-3 has centerset couplers and they are at the correct height according to the Kadee gauge.
If the RS-3 and the RS-11 are basically the same beast, which I suspect they are, then the couplers are mounted on the shell and not the frame. Before changing couplers I would suggest that you check to see if the shell is sitting properly on the frame and isn’t being held up by an out of place wire or something else. My shell is also quite flexible which could mean that although your shell is seated properly in the middle it may still be hanging up at the ends. My coupler boxes have to be ‘snapped’ over metal tabs on the ends of the frame to keep them in place. If the boxes are not snapped over the tabs they will sit too high.
Just a couple of things to explore before you buy the offset couplers.
Dave
EDIT:
This is basically a repeat of what Jay said. He beat me to it!
Have to agree with the rest. I have a good number of the older RS11s all with regular #5 Kadee couplers that sit right where they should.
The old yellow box RS11s had their coupler mount directly to a pin molded into the back of the pilot - there was no connection to the metal frame. Sometimes the plastic pilot would get bent upwards causing the coupler to sit high. Make sure the walkway surface is perfectly flat from end to end and the pilot itself is perfectly vertical.
Mark.
The “weak” shell for the pilot on these Atlas/ Kato’s would cause the coupler height issue as descibed. There is very little space under the shell, due to the extended frame. Reinforcing the pilot can be done if nec. I open the pilot to accept the #5 box and add styrene as a shim for mounting. You will note that this loco used pulling a sufficient load, the pilot will 'droop" under the load. Fantastic model (especially the Kato drive), but this is one downfall.
Just thought I would follow this problem up with an update. As suggested the true problem was the shell mounting. When I looked at it closely, one end was obviously high. Ta-dah!! Problem was solved by reversing the ends of the small inner shell. It must have been me in the past that did it. Engineering and how things work has never been my strong suit. Thanks again for all the helpful suggestions.