Kadee's on an F7

[stang_crazy]

Im wanting to install Kd's on my F7.

I assume #5's will work?


also whats the best method for mounting the couplers on these?

thanks Mike

 

[kbkchooch]

Mike
If I remember correctly, #5's wont work on almost any Athearn. Athearn's blue box coupler pads sit too low. So you either have to shim up the car or engine, or use a different Kaydee coupler.
Go check http://www.kaydee.com/ they have a usage chart that covers a lot of the trains made in the last 20 years or so.
While you are out buying couplers, also get a KD height gage. It will pay for itself in missed derailments and broken trains.
Finally, dont use the clip on covers that come with Athearn stuff, they just fall off anyway. I would suggest using 2-56 screws with KD boxes whenever possible.

 

[stang_crazy]

you are correct, i was thinkin of most the athearn rolling stock. there are a select few engines that use #5's

 

[lmackattack]

hmm.. I use KD#5 on all my BB athearn freight cars and have had little issues. I use the coupler hight gauge that Karl mentioned and for the most part they are all bang on. mostly I have to mod the air hose hight to clear the rail. I dont like the couler clips but I have found that if I trim any flashing around the pocket and bend in the clip after installed they stay on even with pulling 60-70 car trains. a drop of CA cement to the clip sides does help keep them on.. Regarding the F7 the one thing that you might consider is that the distance that the couplers extend. my old F7A/B had a huge gap between locos. KD makes a coupler that they reccomend for your loco.
see link below
http://www.kadee.com/conv/holist.pdf

 

[Rico]

I gave up on two sets of F units and made styrene draw bars between them.
Can't remember all the methods I tried or the kits I used, but I didn't find anything else that satisfied me for the job.
Oddly enough I have some BB units with #5s and some that needed the raised shank couplers, hmmm.....

 

[ThoroughBreed]

I bought the "American Limited Close Coupling kit" from Walthers, 147-6100, and it brings the units closer together for more realism and drops the coupler height just a hair but uses kadee #5's. The kit doesn't come with diaphragms, but it works real well. The kit is $3.50 for 2 pair.
The diaphragms are #147-9813 for the Athearn F units, not the genesis units, but the reg blue box. The price on these are $13.95 for 3 pair.
Try the kits and you'll see how good they look together. I used them on the new RTR NS OCS units and the old blue box Santa Fe FA-B-B-A set sitting on the shelf also, and they look great.