I have one of Intermountain’s maxi IV husky stack units and was going to replace the accumate coupler with a kadee #5 metal coupler when I discovered that the coupler would not fit in the pocket. I am not too familiar with couplers and was wondering what coupler would work. I was thinking about using a whisker coupler but was not sure if that would work so now I am asking you guys for some help.
When you say it did not fit, was this because the flat spring was too wide to fit into the stack car coupler box, or was the width okay but the combination of the spring and coupler shank too high to fit in the box?
If the width was okay but the height was too great by the amount of the flat spring, than the whisker coupler should work. If it is a width issue, then it might be because they used the “proto: HO Accumate” coupler as described at http://www.accurail.com/accurail/accumate.htm. From what I see here this coupler requires, or comes with, a narrower coupler box. This might be the cause of your problem.
You could try sending an e-mail to Kadee explaining what you have and maybe they can make a recommendation. Look at http://www.kadee.com/index.shtml and look for where it says “Sam the answer man” for the e-mail information.
Regards
Maxman,
The part that didn’t fit was the flat spring (gold thing). Thanks for the help, looks like I’ll be asking Kadee on this one.
I suspect, then, that the Whisker coupler will work. However, asking Kadee would be the proper place to get an answer.
Once you get this figured out, be sure to re-post here what the solution turns out to be in case the question gets asked again.
Okay then, I guess I will go and ask Kadee for their input on the subject. I’ll post any updates.
There was a pretty active thread on this topic on the Atlas Model Railroading forum a month ago. Here’s the link. I think you’ll find it very helpful.
WHY don’t you CALL InterMountain? All IM products come with Kadee #5’s, and have for years. You must have a pretty old IM car.
Before Kadee IM had their own plastic KD ‘clone’…plus old KD #8’s should fit.(.It doesn’t use the ‘flat’ centering spring).
Don,
You should probably read the Atlas forum thread. It has all of the details. Apparently them not coming with Kadees, even after being advertised, and then not support drop in #5s has people up in arms. I don’t have any of the BNs yet but was waiting on the next set, which are TTX. Hopefully they will fix it by then.
Some manufacturers including bachmann make the center pin larger and it doesn’t fit into the hole of the Kadee flat spring. I usually wind up filing the center pin down until if fits. I wonder if Kadee makes any with larger holes for this situation.[%-)]
Thanks for the link jbinkley60, I did find it very helpful. I appreciate it.