I now have a number of newer Bachmann HO engines, and would like to know: will Kadee’s new “whisker” couplers fit the Bachmann coupler boxes? I can’t seem to get a regular Kadee centering spring to fit in them, and I would really like to have quality couplers in my Bachmann engines. (I did sort of make my own once by gluing home-made springs to the sides of a pair of #58s [:D], but it would be a pain to do it for every engine)
A Kadee Whisker coupler should fit okay into the Bachmann coupler pocket, because the couplers supplies by Bachmann use the same design principle as the whisker coupler, except that Bachmann’s couplers are all plastic and Kadee’s are all metal.
The best advice is, try one and see.
Sorry I can’t provide a more definitive answer, but I haven’t converted a Bachmann locomotive recently.
Darth, go to the Kadee website, they have an answer-man there, very helpful, can answer all your questions.
The new #148 is thicker than the old #5 to make up for the lack of the spring in standard coupler boxes.
I’m doing the same thing with my Bachs.(what were they thinking when the made that built in draft gear box[%-)]) I want to order mine this weekend, but I don’t know if I should get the short or medium shank length. I’ve heard they work fine.
Darth:
I think it varies depending on the spec. Bach engine. If you look at the conversion list on the Kadee website, it looks like most of the plain “Bachman” listings use the MCS listing, meaning you can use either the 5, 58 or 148. Most of the Spectrum line lists other conversions in their 20 or 30 conversion series, so therefore the 148 shank length could be an issue, but I have no experience here.
My feeling, and this has been discussed on other threads, is that Kadee is going to eventually convert to whisker springs for all of their couplers/conversions–I for one hope so. It’s a bit of a pain to get the centering springs in the coupler box, but I think even more important is that the whisker spring seems “springier”, i.e. tends to center the coupler better that the centering spring of the 5/30 series conversions that I’ve done.
Jim
There is a great PDF with all the loco’s, which Kadee fits, etc. on Kadee’s web site. If you want, I can email it to you… drop me a line.
Brian