I have several Proto 1000 FM Erie Builts that the rear couple on the A units is drooping causing them to uncouple. Has anyone else had this problem and do you have a fix? The scale is HO.
Is the coupler itself drooping, or is it the swingable box? I replaced the proto couplers with Kadees, and I haven’t had a problem. Make sure the cover is snapped on tight. If the box is drooping, I’m not sure what to do.
The shank on the Proto 1000 coupler tends to twist and distort. Do yourself and your sanity a favor and replace it with a Kadee. I use Kadee #5’s on my Proto 2000’s.
Ditto about Kadees. The plastic couplers are two weak between the powerful engines.
My 3 unit set of Santa Fe Erie Builts have done very well with Kadees, and the swing brackets are no trouble at all.
[#ditto]
I have replaced all of my Proto 1000 and Proto 2000 couplers with KD #5s, and no problems.
I’ve used the Kaydee #27’s. They raise the coupler height if nothing else works.
Thanks for the help guys. I’m an old KD fan just trying to pinch pennies. I’ll do the swap for KDs and see what happens If it is the swing bar I’ll have to see if anything else can be done.
See you all later.
The ‘original’ Proto 2000 couplers were the worlds worst. Don’t know what they put on their current 1000 line (which came much later).
Since Walthers (and McHenry) entered the picture, it’s use whatever you get for ‘free’, or replace with Kadee’s, and avoid the rush. They cost about $0.75 each.
Most of us ‘old timers’ replaced our ‘horn-hooks’ then, so welcome to the Club.
Hi Don: I’ve been using KDs since they first came out about 50 years ago. Since I’ve got 220 Walthers ore cars, one third of which need to have dummy couplers replaced with KDs I’ve got an expensive project coming up.
Take care
Paul W. Beverung:
From “several” Erie built engines, to 70 plus cars? - OK.
Total Replacements … About the cost of an engine , plus you can do one-two cars at a time. Can be bought in bulk packs, too.
(Welcome to the club). I replaced all my old metal trucks, also.
ORE TRAINS? Generally run as ‘unit’ trains. Matching Dummy couplers perfect - like container freight. Save up for an ‘Ore Dock’.
A 20 pair pack can be had for 10 bucks in certain areas, still expensive. IMO, just leave dummy couplers on most of them, since real RRs keep them in sets.
A 20 pair pack can be had for 10 bucks in certain areas, still expensive. IMO, just leave dummy couplers on most of them, since real RRs keep them in sets.
Replace all Proto couplers with Kadee couplers for better operation and performance.
That’s 20 cars for $10, or $0.50 each.
Hi All: I’m going to replace the dummys because in natural ore years there were different types and grades of ore. Several types or grades of ore from different mines would be mixed on the ore dock as the end user would specifiy. This adds a great deal of interest to whoever is operating the ore dock.
As for the ore dock I’m scratch building it. I made molds for the chutes and cast them in resin. The dock is going to be a concrete dock made out of plywood.
I know this has been said MANY times before… WHY doesn’t good quality rolling stock come with good quality couplers? The mfgs all say it would raise the cost, but they could probably get them in bulk cheaper than we can & with the new whisker design, they could be assembled quickly. I also heard that Kadee couldn’t keep up with the demand, this has been denied by Kadee. Thank goodness most have given in & now include metal wheels…let’s go the final step & include Kadees.
HOLY CRAP! You really need to post some pictures of that![:O]
Most of the time when I replace the coupler that comes with loco or car I find some flash or something that interferes with the reliable operation of the coupler on the coupler box. The flash or something needs to be dealt with sooner or later (I prefer the sooner). But if you want the manufacture to install the Kadees so you don’t have to go through all the hideous torturous trouble of buying a bulk pack and installing them properly (because the mfg isn’t removing the flash, adding too much glue, wrong height etc.) just so you can then complain about the price increase or that they didn’t pay close enough attention putting them in and make everyone else pay for something they would rather do themselves…[soapbox] Personally, I wish that Athearn Genesis and other cars would come in two options RTR and Kit or Mostly Built. The mostly built would come w/o the shells and couplers attached to the frame/floor so weight and/or electronics can be added/improved without damage because they were assembled mostly permanently.
Even if a mfg can get Kadees at a bulk rate cheaper than we can get them doesn’t make them cheaper than the ones they are providing now. Would they pass the price break down to us? Every time a product changes hands on its way to the counter it seems to double in price. If you want to get rolling stock with Kadees installed correctly buy Kadee (and they are made in the USA).<