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I've been away from HO for a long time. I have a small fleet of engines and rolling stock that I want to convert to modern Kadee couplers from the old plastic "hook" type. Like to build a small layout.
Can any of you steer me to a publication or two that I could use as a guide? I was bewildered by the different types available now...wow! I'm about 100 mi from the nearest rr hobby shop so references are important.
Hi Dave and welcome to the forum. Yes there is a reference to most makes on the Kadee site. Here is a link to their conversion pages http://www.kadee.com/conv/ho.htm
You'll also need a coupler height gauge and their trip pin pliers would be a great asset.
The best and most common type of couplers are made by Kadee. They make a coupler for every application as well as several (#5, #58, #148, #158) that will fit most locos and rolling stock. You can find them here: http://www.kadee.com/htmbord/HO-Scale Couplers.htm
You can also write to Kadee and they'll send you a printed out brochure and catalog. I found this very informative. I know MR magazine had an article on HO scale couplers a while back, I fail to remember which issue.
Walthers just came out with the new PROTO MAX Couplers which are virtually identical compared to the Kadee #5's. In my opinion, there just as good if not better, and a better price as well... They feature All Metal Design, Fully Assembled and Ready to Install, Separate Metal Centering Spring, Magnetic Uncoupling Action, and Separate Plastic Draft Gear Boxes. ive replaced all my rolling stock with them, even if they had KADEE #5's as i like everything to be the same lol. Retail on the PROTO MAX Couplers is $21.98 for 20 pair (20 cars), available through me for $16.49 a pack.
Walthers just came out with the new PROTO MAX Couplers which are virtually identical compared to the Kadee #5's. ........ Retail on the PROTO MAX Couplers is $21.98 for 20 pair (20 cars), available through me for $16.49 a pack.
lol uhhhh no i was just stating my personal opinion on the new PROTO MAX Couplers. Honestly I didnt mean to do any sort of advertising, i just thought i would throw it out there to compare the prices to see whats a better value and bang for your buck, seeing how alot of us (myself included) are on a limited income, and whats left goes to trains (which most of the time is not much at all, at least with me, and i even own my own shop lol)
I used to be a KADEE #5 guy, i had all my rolling stock and engines with them installed, till i sold off most of my rolling stock and some of my engines to get my business started (no other option to get things rolling, the money had to come from someplace and i didnt have a job at the time LOL). So when i started accumulating rolling stock again, i began replacing all the couplers that didnt already have PROTO MAX Couplers (Walthers Gold Line now comes with these installed) with the new PROTO MAX Couplers cuz they are cheaper then the #5's when buying them in the 20 pairs.
That's not a bad price for 20 pair but I'll continue to pay the extra $3.77 for the Kadee 20 pair pack. I'm a creature of habit and I stick with brands I've come to trust.
I have been looking at these kadee wisker couplers. they look like they recenter better and have less drag on them so they work better over the magnets.. anyone have a opinion on them?
I have quite a few cars with the Whisker couplers. They center more reliably and are much easier to install as there's only only piece instead of two or three. I just order several packs of the Kadee Whisker shelf couplers yesterday to see how well they work out.
Ya know, I've got a Proto Max and Kadee #5 sitting here right next to each other. I really wonder if the Proto Max is made under license by Walthers. The shape, knuckles, springs, and centering plates are all identical, down to the mold parting maks on the shank. The only thing that's different is the plastic coupler pockets are little longer and the ears are placed a little further forward. It seems almost impossible to me that Walthers could make these without a huge patent fight unless they had a prior agreement with Kadee. As far as I know, the Protos don't come in the whisker variety, which is all I've been buying from Kadee lately. Maybe Kadee figures the whisker coupler has a better future and licensing some #5's to Walthers is a way to make up falling revenue from that source.
