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Hey All
I have installed some Kadees on my rollingstock and have weighed down the wagons - however, if I try and couple two wagons together really slowly, the other wagon just gets pushed down and not coupled. Do you use some speed to couple up or can you couple up with a very small movement on one wagon?
Cheers!
Several guys in our club use these and I even have a few on some of my equipment. But neither the club nor I have noticed any need to increase the speed (or pressure) needed to get these to couple.
What we have noticed is that your trackwork has to be smooth, without any rough areas of any kind, to keep them coupled.
Check the coupler height. Walthers sells an NMRA coupler gauge.
Bob
make sure the latching part of the couplers is working freely, and that both couplers are centered so they meet properly.
Some binding on the latching part (there's a technical name for this that escapes me at the present...) is common and may need some fine filing and/or lubrication.
The face of the coupler (where they would initially touch) often has some casting "flash" on it, smooth this off with a fine file.
Yep, sounds like a combination of binding in the knuckle hinge and maybe some metal flash. In addition to the above suggestions, a tube of powdered graphite is a good thing to have around. A little puff will usually loosen up stuck couplers. Watch out if you paint couplers, especially the smaller #58's. It doesn't take much paint to get into the spring or knuckle joint before the coupler get completely frozen.
You might also want to check your car weights. The cars should weigh in at the NMRA guidelines. I have never had trouble with flash on these couplers (any variations) or knuckle binding. Guess it's possible, but underweight cars that are toooo light could move instead of couple.
Yea - I think it may be due to the weight of my kits.
At what speed do you guys couple your wagons? 5mph scale speed?
Cheers!
I try and do it realistically. Just enough force to couple the cars. The car should not move if you do it right. You could also check the coupler movement in the pocket. Some manufacturers' draft gear boxes aren't "Kadee friendly". I've had to change out draft gear boxes on Intermountain kits & some Red Caboose cars...too delicate, and needed shimming. Make sure the coupler does not bind in the box and is at the right height.
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