is it just me or do other folks have problems with these Micro-Trains couplers working with the ones on the Atlas cars and engines… I think they are suppose to work together but i have problems with them…
Being an HO-scaler, I’m curious. While in HO scale the Kadee coupler has become the generally accepted, universal coupler, hasn’t something similar (a standard coupler with variations fitting virtually all manufacturers’ models) been adopted/available in N scale?
Mark
Yes, they’re called MicroTrains couplers (formerly Kadee before the company split) and are what the original poster is referring to. What he is saying is that since the the compatible couplers appeared, they don’t all mate with MT as well as MT mates to MT. Just like in HO, compatible isn’t always compatible.
So! The answer is simple. Replace incompatible “clones” with the real MTs.
Mark
the acumate say they are compatible and do move like the Kadee’s over the magents, but i have not been able to uncouple them when next to a Kadee… Its gotten to be such a pain in the pocketbook to spend money on a nice Atlas boxcar then anothe 6 bucks for the couplers… Just was not sure if i am doing something wrong here
Tha Atlas Crapumates (Accumates) look OK but have many shortfalls. The biggest is that they fall apart, and I don’t mean that they break. They actually fall to pieces. Not good in tunnels. Also they are non magnetic so using magnets to uncouple is out. I replace mine asap. I still have a car about every other week have the Accumate coupler come apart, and my trains are only 10 cars on 2% grades.
I don’t use magnetic uncoupling and train lengths are short, so I can’t say that I’ve had a lot of problems. MT and Accumates work fine in combination for me with skewers.
The funny thing is some times the Accumates and MTs play well together and other times not so good.
My biggest complaint about MT couplers is the “slinky effect” and their failure to uncouple over a magnet at times.
I been using Accumates with great success and I find them to be more reliable then MTs when it comes to uncoupling-I have a temporary “U” shape Unitrack switching layout set up on my dining room table.I still use MTs on my club cars and locomotives since that’s a club rule…
I model N scale and have Kadee now Micro-Trains, on my older cars and my new cars have been all Atlas with Accumate couplers.
The Atlas and MT’s work just fine together for me. The only difference is the MT’s are much closer to the real size.
I do not use the magnets with my current layout so that eliminates a major hassle for uncoupling. I really like using the bamboo skewers.
I also remove the uncoupling pin as it is not needed and this eliminates the problem with it catching on track and switch parts.
You mean there are N-Scale couplers besides Rapido and Kadee’s? whatever will they think of next?
I from Belgium,
There are a lot of discussions about the couplers since some other brands than Kadee/MT are making knuckle couplers and I admit it, at cheaper price than the precursors Kadee.
What could be say about all of this discussions, is the fact that people which made heavy operations and a lot of coupling/uncoupling on their layout, generaly prefer the Kadee/MT couplers.
So here is what I am thinking about: I run Nscale trains since nearly 30 years now…
The advice of MT cars is “we are the Cadillac of the cars in Nscale” and I am sure they are the Cadillac of the couplers too. The couplers are so easy to couple or uncouple.
I have a majority of MT cars in my fleet (300 cars) with a few Atlas (recent) and Intermountain cars.
All are MT couplers equiped; for the MT cars I reuse the truck mounted coupler for a body mounting.You need to cut it from the truck. I replace the wheels with 33" scale metalic wheels. If you reuse these couplers try to not use curve under a 34" radius because of the move of the truck.
For the other brand, I replace the couplers with often a 1025 MT couplers.
As a rule all the couplers are body mounted, all the cars are weighted following the NMRA data.
I beleive that only one type of coupler as a standard is better than some brands togheter, because there is slight differences which in this skinny scale can cause problems.
Permanent magnets don’t exist on my layout because I use only home made magnetic uncoupler to avoid any uncoupling.
Marc
Food for thought.
Those that doesn’t use magnets to uncouple with is losing one of the advantages of knuckle couplers…Delayed uncoupling…
And that’s why I use magnets.
For me magnetic uncoupling is easier than using a skewer in the wee scale as well…
N gauge Accumate couplers are too stiff. I can push a car around my layout without the knuckles engaging and they have to be banged together pretty good. Micro trains couplers just slip together always. Accumates stick open a lot when using a skewer or rix pic.
HO Accumates and McHenry’s are not much better. I have broken a lot of knuckles at the head of 25-30 car trains.