Has anyone had much experience with Accumate Couplers ?
How would you compare them with McHenry Couplers with the metal springs?
Compared to McHenry couplers they’re not that good. They can’t swing in one direction because they have this thing cast on that won’t let them. They don’t couple to other cars easily on sharp turns either. Kadee couplers are probably the best but the McHenry/Bachmann couplers are good too.
Go with KD couplers or the Mchenry scale coupler…You willl be better off.
When KD’s patent expired and the invasion of the clones was in full swing I tried about half a dozen of each to see if I might save a buck or two. The Intermountain clone was eliminated first since it would break if a hard enough joint were made. The McHenry and Accumate were both rejected for the same two reasons. First, when running long trains (I regularly run 50 cars) the combination of the slippery plastic and excessive draw ((making of a mold w/ angles slightly off of 90 degrees to fa***ate demoulding) caused both types to slip- by. I also use the delay function a LOT and both brands were highly problematic using this. There’s a reason KD had a slogan in the fifties and sixties when the “NMRA” cplr first came out, “the standard by choice”.
Opinion? In not so many words: THEY STINK!
3 pieces, with the uncoupling pin being one of those? Integral plastic whiskers for springs? I have a box full of them from the car kits that come with those - I always replace them with Kadee.
–Randy
I used one. Once. Ever since, discarding them has been my first priority with any Accurail kit.
-dave
I’ve replaced just about all of my Accumates, since they tend to ‘split’ on any heavy train coming downgrade and don’t snap back into place when the trains reaches level ground. I’ve ended up with enough 2 and 3-part trains to realize that the best couplers I’m going to get are Kadees. Not only have I replaced most of my Accumates, but I’m on the way to replacing the non-coil spring EZ-mates as fast as I can. Couplers need to COUPLE!
Tom [xx(]
On the contrary to other posts, Accumate couplers are all I use. Kadees and McHenry’s springs break out too easily(For me)and E-Z Mates, well, must I say it? I’ve had little experience with Intermountains, but what I have found is they’re just like the E-Z Mates. And you don’t have to deal with the annoying metal pins with Accumates.
uspscsx
I have to agree with everyone here.
Accumate are ok, but KD’s are the ones to go with for durability & price.
Gordon
Never heard of um. Heard of Kadee, though. Got some of them. That ought to tell you something.
use kd,s… tried all the rest when they came out… all the non kd,s are now glued so that they no longer opened…i now use them on the coal wagons ( unit trains )…peter
KD has over 45 years of professional quality products and makes couplers for over
40 different applications.
www.kadee.com
Two words: they bite.
One word: KADEE!