KD Whiskers (HO) Pros? Cons?

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

Howdy all. The whiskers have been out for a while now and I was wondering about any good or bad feed back.

Thanks

2

I recently installed some on a P2K boxcar, and installation is a snap with these things. I really like them, and now you can get them with the long or short shanks as well, so that is great. They seem to be a bit “looser” than the types with the seperate centering spring, but they center themselves just fine, and that is what is important.

3

i have them on all my rolling stock and just about every loco.i really like them.although the #5’s worked, the problem i alway’s had was with the bronze centering spring.even following kd’s suggestion’s and using greasem(graphite) i alway’s had problem’s with the couple centering properly.no problem’s like that anymore…[:)] terry…

4

Thanks for the feed back.

Anyone have any bad comments? I know they are a bit $$$$, but they might solve some of my problems. Any one know if their going to make them with offset heads? (THAT would ROCK!)

I like the new forum format, but STILL no spell check???

Thanks

5

i beleive they have the scale whisker coupler’s in various configurations but im not sure about the 148.haven’t got any of the scale coupler’s yet, but since they’re kd i’m sure they will be a big hit.terry…

6

I almost bought these on the Bay a few weeks ago. It looks like a much simpler design. I assume they are a drop-in fit for most freight & passenger coupler pockets (Athearn, etc.)?

Nelson

7

Pros: Simpler installation - Plug and play.

Con: Spring Centering action does not support 'Delayed uncoupling feature of #5.

Kaydees cost more to start with - pennies.

8

Thanks Don

I don’t care so much about the delay action for the un coupleing. I don’t use that feature with the #5’s anyhow. Is there any slop up and down in the draft gear box that you need to shim when your setting up the coupler hight? (Athearn BB’s stock boxes or KD and Mc.H #5 type boxes)

Do you need to put a peice of .005" styrene in the bottom of the draft gear box to make up for the missing brass centering spring? (I hope I’m explaning this right)

9

No, Kadee manufactured a thicker coupler to make up for the lack of spring. Typical Kadee quality and attention to detail.

I really like the new couplers. They allow for more lateral movement, which is helpful on longer engines going around curves. Only con is no bulk packs yet that I know of.

Jim

10

I have installed some but,don’t think I will rush out and replace my #5s any time soon after all I wouldn’t call $3.75 per pack “pennies” when you can only do 2 cars with the whisker coupler.Of course I hardly call a 20 pack of #5’s at $24.95 “pennies” either.I call it a necessity evil for smoother operation.[;)][:D]

11

I have installed a few on cars I’m reparing or upgrading. They are easier to install and seem to work fine, as expected. I am? was not aware they don’t have the delayed uncoupling action. That would be a down side.

Tilden

12

I really like the new whisker couplers. The spring (whisker) tension could be increased a bit but other than that, no complaints.

13

Con: Spring Centering action does not support 'Delayed uncoupling feature of #5

sure it does! i have delayed magnet’s several place’s on my layout and the whisker coupler’s work better than my old #5 using the bronze centering spring.terry…

14

[#ditto]

I’ve had no problems with delayed action with the whiskers , I have been buying the local shop out as he gets them in, Yes I’m even changing out #5’s with them. I love em !

15

I don’t know the tolerances built into the ‘Whisker’ coupler. I use mostly 40 series (5’s) and 30’s on unit passenger. KD designed shims take care of any 40’s ‘droops’.

Since ‘whiskers’ are designed for other manufacturer’s OEM coupler pockets I would imagine that tolerances would be looser - not tighter. Sort of ‘one size fits all’ theory.

To my knowledge, there is no NMRA Recommendations for coupler pockets, only height … - case in point Athearn Genesis’ engines.

16

What you may not know department"

Kadee 5’s (and 40’s) - using the ‘flat’ centering spring - applies 2 different pressures to the pivot head (which has 2 different angles) to promote ‘Delayed Uncoupling’. When these KD’S are ‘pushed’ over a magnet, slack is let out - allowing cars to uncouple.

The 'DELAYED FEATURE allows one car, when over the magnet, to ‘push’ the other to a non-magnetic location, and drop it. On straight track this allows a single magnet to do the work.

Different CENTERING devices - including KD’s own - may sometimes work - or may SOMETIMES not.

The difference is in the ‘Design’

RE: “Pennies”

A KD #11 BULK PACK (no coupler boxes) costs a 'whopping" $0.70 apiece. A 4 PACK of #148 ‘whiskers’ is $0.94 ea. at full retail.

If you can’t afford that - Use what comes for FREE! Like I said, … “Pennies”. How much is your next hot dog - without the bun**?**

17

these are overpriced at a dollar each

NOT WORTH IT!

18

Don not all of us our rich like you

These cost too much simple enough.

19

OK Curt. If you feel they’re not worth a ‘‘dollar’’, that’s fine.

I’m not rich but I can afford 70 cents - especially when 25% off. What do you do for a living?

20

Here is photo of one of these semi-scale “whisker” Kadee’s installed in a Bachmann Spectrum 2-8-0. The Bachmann couple box is actually too shallow to accept the stock whisker coupler so I had to thin the shank a little.