Hello - I’m new at coupler conversions - gradually figuring out the differences on the manufacturers to get my cars all converted to kadees. But I’m stumped on this one…
I’ve received a mib 42’ Hart convertible gondola/work train ballast car made by Train Miniature. When I installed the kadee coupler, it droops down; obviously the pocket height is too large. I tried shimming between the foil spring and pocket but then the pin is too short for the coupler to sit on.
Kadee doesn’t have a conversion file listed on their website.
Should I file the gear box down or remove the coupler pocket and attach (screw in) a kadee gear box? Any other ideas?
I assume this is a Kadee #5 you’re trying to install? If so, have you tried assembling the Kadee so that the brass shim spring is on the bottom when you put it together and set the car upright? This will help keep the coupler from drooping sometimes and may be your issue. A lot of times, when people assemble them, they assume that the shim spring always goes on top and this is not necessarily so, depending on circumstances such as you’ve encountered.
Removing the old coupler pocket and replacing it with a Kadee draft gear box is probably the way to go. In the long run, it’s less effort than trying to make the coupler work with the original box. I use a Dremel and the old box is gone in seconds.
The one thing I usually do is remove the small loop “ears” on the sides of the gear box. They frequently interfere with the wheels on tight turns, and don’t really serve any purpose tha I can see.