Can someone tell me what issue of MR has an how to on replacing the horn couplers…There is no way the parts of the #5 will fit the box that holds the horn. It is all plastic and no screws. I need pictures to look at . Thanks
Sorry I don’t have the answer as to which issue that was. However, there is an article on the N.M.R.A. site. Click HERE.
It sounds like your equipment is trainset quality. Almost all of the middle to top of the line equipment readily accepts KD #5 couplers. It has probably been 30 years since the last time I bought a piece of rolling stock that did not have a coupler box suited to drop a KD #5 into. If you really want to keep that equipment, KD has replacement coupler boxes. You will have to remove the existing coupler mount and either glue or screw the KD coupler box in place. On most pieces, not a difficult task at all.
Go to http://www.kadee.com.
They have a conversion list here: http://www.kadee.com/conv/list.htm.
They have some specific HO instructions here: http://www.kadee.com/conv/ho.htm which includes links to specific pages for specific vendors.
Hope this helps.
Well first off what kind of equipment are you trying to convert? Some equipment has special applications like custom draft boxes and even the new wisker couplers. The link that Aggiewonder provides you with a chart of what equipment needs what coupler or special application. Give that a try and /or let us know what you are converting and the scale too.
Arbitrarily locking ones self into the #5 coupler boarders on sillyness. Kadee makes so many variations that make it easy to convert equipment, why make it hard by limiting one’s self to using the #5? From the description given it sounds like it might be needing the “talgo” type of conversion. I believe one of the most common talgos is a #37.
Texas Zephyr, could you tell me what a talgo type conversion is? I’m new at this, but trying to learn as fast as I can.
“Talgo” trucks are the trucks that have the coupler mounted on an arm that in then connected to the truck (the coupler is NOT mounted to the body of the car).
all zephyr meant (i think) is that you need to buy the couplers made for converting talgo trucks, and not the body mount style
as for the number 37s - Kadee markets them as “Medium (9/32”) underset shank" (the underset shank raises the coupler height… i guess to the same height as if it were body-mounted)
As NeO6874 says, the Talgo type couplers are mounted on the wheels (which are called trucks) rather than the body of the car. That way the coupler pivots with the wheels. The entire “mechanism” is usually glued closed so one has to pry it open (usually breaking it). The Kadee kits come with special plastic inserts that replace the part you have to pry open to get to the couplers.
Do your cars have a brand stamped into the plastic on the bottom of the car like AHM, Rivarossi, or ??? There are just so many types out there, it is hard to give sound advise. Then add to that the fact that I have not done this sort of conversion for a loooong time. I believe the last coupler mounted car I had in my fleet was converted in 1989 or so. If indeed your cars are in this category, some would question whether they are worth converting or not.
Some of Kadee’s other couplers (such as the 20-series, and 30-series) will fit into a #5 box. I sometimes use this to my advantage if the hobby shop is temporarily out of the one I need.
I can’t work out why all the manufacturers don’t make the kadee no5 as standard on all models.It would solve all the confusion and make it easy for all those who are new to the hobby
Then it wouldn’t be any fun…just look at the fight for the next generation DVD format…
