Kadee coupler question

[AllenB]

Some of my rolling stock that I've purchased at shows or even added Kadee couplers,.....the brake lines that hang down from the coupler, seem to catch sometimes on turnouts and on occasion where the ballast is too high causing derailings. I sometimes have to cut them to make them shorter. What am I missing here? Wrong coupler?
I'm using code 100 track.

 

[Larry]

You need the coupler pliers for bending that glad hand up a little to clear everything. If you don't have one you can use a good strong pair of needlenose pliers, but you have to be careful that you don't twist the coupler. You also need a coupler heighth gage.
You can get all of these items from Micro-Mark. I couldn't do w/out these items on my layout. been using them since they 1st came out many years ago. Don't cut it off if you are planning to use magnets to uncouple your trains.

 

[julienjj]

you are not doing something wrong, the hoose just hang way to low, i cutted it on all my rolling stock, except on loco. you could also only reduce it,if you whant. just take a good set of cutter and put on some safety glasses, these thing fly away quite fast

 

[Irongrave]

some times they get bent. I tend to bend mine up a little to avoid that problem

 

[maczimb]

Coupler adjustment

Allen.
I'm pretty sure we have all had the same problem.
Don't cut em! Kadee makes a pair of pliers to "tweek" em.
Kadee # 237.
I recently purchased mine, cost about $14.00. at a local train store in Anaheim California.
Good luck.
Mac

 

[UP2CSX]

Unless you need or want them for magnetic uncoupling, I'd just cut them off with a sharp pair of side cutting nippers. The couplers will look more realistic without them. You still should check the height with a coupler gauge though, since couplers at the wrong height lead to embarrassing uncoupling, especially when you have someone over to look at the layout.

 

[Beachbum]

Common causes:

-Coupler mounted too low
-Coupler is sagging in the coupler box.
-Center mounting screw too tight - coupler tends to stay stuck to one side or the other. Had that happen just last night.
-If you had to file down a loco frame like on an old Athearn to mount a coupler box, make sure you filed it squarely or the coupler can tilt up, down, or to one side.

I've not seen many "hoses" that were bent out of "proper" shape but you can always bend 'em. A height gauge and close visual inspection will tell you what's going on.