I have just returned to the hobby after an absence of almost 20 years. At the time I left the hobby I was in the process of converting all my rolling stock to Kadee couplers mostly Kadee # 5’s. I still have about 30 pieces of rolling stock to convert but now I see something named ’ Whisker Couplers" what are these and are they the same thing I have installed in the past. Should I continue to install Kadee #5’s or switch to the whisker coupler? Do they come in a number #5 also?
Whiskers are metal springs that look like cat whiskers and are built into the couplers. The whiskers go inthe coupler box so no extra spring is needed.
In this link note the picture of the coupler. The small V shaped wires are the whiskers.
The #148 is the whisker version of the #5. If a #5 fits (correct height etc) then a #148 will work. Since there’s only one piece, they can be a lot easier to get the coupler box together because you don;thave to juggle coupler, flat spring, and coupler box lid, just the coupler and lid.
There’s no reason to toss #5s, or replace them, but for any new purchases I would recommend getting the #148 instead. I was somewhat resistant to changing since #5s haev always worked for me, but after my first pack of 148s I was convinced.
–Randy
I like the new whisker couplers as well. For most applications I use the #148. For tank cars and covered hoppers I use the #119 shelf coupler, as is for tank cars, cut the top shelf off for use with covered hoppers.
Great information guys! I’ve been very faithful to the Kadee #5 but will be giving the #148’s a try when my current supply runs dry.
Woodman,
I hope this will help, pix help me… (also, notice the ‘whiskers’ on the nose of the SD40-2, they are there but not too bad)
Here is a shot of a couple left on the painting stick… These are ones that have very high tensile spring ‘whiskers’ instead of the additional bronze spring plate
to center the coupler. These are the ‘Scale’ units like a #158. The only drawback that I see, is that the actual ‘whiskers’ have to stick out, or protrude out of the coupler box to prevent binding & jamming, so there is a little identifier if one would look really close. Other than that, I personally, have had good luck with these. I have seen a couple that were missing a ‘whisker’, but I can not rule out that my poor handling & re-packaging broke off the extremely stiff wire whisker… So I will not lay any blame there. I hope this picture & explanation helps you a bit. Enjoy!
Don’t forget there is a full line in the 148 series, just liek the 5. So if you need an overset or underset head, or a short or long shank, those are all available in the whisker style as well.
–Randy