I read about the Sargeant couplers in another thread. I checked out their site and I really like what I see. I’m thinking about switching from Kadees over to Sargeants. Does anyone on the forum use these couplers? If so how about a review? Thanks.
Jason
If you change to Sergeant’s couplers, you won’t be able to run any other coupler type with them because they won’t mate to anything else. This means that you won’t be able to use your equipment on someone else’s layout unless they use Sergeants also or you change the couplers beforehand.
As Jeff pointed out, they wont hook up to anything else - however - they make a neat rotary coupler! If you have an old Walthers rotary car dumper, and motorize it, you can actually rotate & dump your hoppers! If I ever get around to putting my dumper together, I’d probably try it!![:D]
Well - yes and no. I tested and reviewed these couplers last year for the Maritime Branchline, our local rag. Here’s the gist of what I found:
The Sergent coupler is the finest replica of a type E coupler I have ever seen. Assembled versions come in the “clean-rust” colour of a new coupler, and readily take paint for weathering.
The Sergent has a captive ball bearing within the coupler body which acts like the locking pin of a prototype coupler. This ball is lifted with a magnet to unlock the knuckle and open the coupler. Coupling requires at least one knuckle to be open, but takes less coupling force than many spring-operated couplers.
While the Sergent is not self-centering, I found no great impediment in checking alignment and ensuring at least one knuckle was open before coupling, since I’m already used to walk-around operation and manual uncoupling. Some users are experimenting with adding a self-centering spring to make the couplers more friendly to non-walkaround operation.
I found the Sergent coupled quite well with the Kadee 58 and McHenry 71 if the knuckle of the Sergent was opened before coupling, but this took additional coupling force to lock the Sergent closed. The Kadee 5 and 118 did not give reliable automatic coupling with the Sergent, but worked if the Sergent was left closed and treated as a dummy coupler for “lift and shift” coupling and uncoupling. The Sergent would not couple at all with the standard-size Accumate, and worked less well with the EZMate and its like than with the Kadee 5 - I don’t recommend using Sergents with either of these. Like the Kadee 58, the shorter coupler body makes consistency in mounting height more important, although this is good practice in any case.
My conclusion was I would not install Sergents for the time being. I presently operate in a modular group with severa
Here’s something you should look at, for when the time comes for you to assemble your rotary dumper. This guy did a great job on it!
Thanks for the link!! I read the article some time ago - you’re right - he did a great job!! If I get around to it I’ll probably make it a manual operated dumper - don’t think I’m up o all the electirics!! Maybe a slow gearmotor! Thanks again!![:)]
B-Dubya, thanks for the review. I’m thinking I’m going to make the plunge and switch over. I really don’t go anywhere to run trains, since I’m the only modeler around these parts. But if I do, I’ll just get me a freight car of some sort with a sargeant coupler on one end and a KD on the other.
Jason
B-Dubya,
Where have you been? [:)] We been missing you around here and over on Atlas. BTW, that friend of mine who’s modeling the CB&CNS is now up to seven engines: two RS18’s with sound from Proto, and now five (yes, five!) of the big Alcos (C630’s?) from Overland…plus his caboose he painted. He’s also known as “MRAMTRAK” on this MR Forum. We were talking, and wondering just how many different numbers did Overland release of this big monsters? I wouldn’t have thought there’d be more than 4, but there it is.
Anyways, back to the topic at hand… My problem with Sargeants is the lack of ability to use them in passenger service with car diaphrams. Or even on FA, F, E or PA type locos. And since I model the NH, which used it’s passenger diesels on freight, there’s very little chance of me switching over, no matter how good they look.
Paul A. Cutler III
Weather Or No Go New Haven
Ah so, grasshopper - the cricket that chirps not, is just as real as the circket who chirps is!
I’ve been here all along, just busy and therefore posting less. Kids’ll do that to you. Planning to get to NERPM this year though. I’m overdue for a road trip.
As far as I know OMU OMI offered the C630M in all eight CBNS numbers/names, although I’ve never seen more than six (I think). I have a Stewart C630 awaiting conversion and paint, but that’ll probably be next year…maybe. There’s a bunch of stuff ahead of it…
I can’t find the Sargeant Couplers website - can you post a link?