Upgrading Couplers

[Anonymous]

I just recently got into Model Railroading and I want to use my old (1980's) Tyco and Bachmann engines and rolling stock. What I want to do is upgrade the couplers to the newer knuckle couplers but I'm not sure what to look for or how to upgrade them. Could anyone give me some insight. I've been told to go with either Kadee or Bachmann couplers but I'm not sure which ones I need. If anyone could help, I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Kadee is your best bet - they have greater variety of couplers than anyone else - Mchenry are also very good and compatible with Kadee for coupling and uncoupling - check out two great articles on couplers that will answer all your questions - Model Railroader magazine july 2000 page 58 article by Jim Hediger titled "Ho scale magnetic knuckle couplers and article in Model Railroader magazine February 1995 page 74 article again by Jim Hediger titled "kade HO couplers an introduction to magnematic automatic knuckle couplers " after reading above guarantee you'll be an expert./
Keep on trackin
Rudy Montreal Canada

[Anonymous]

Of you go to www.kadee.com and look at their conversion chart. it will tell you what coupler to use with most cars/locos Mike Dickinson

[Anonymous]

www.kadee.com/conv/list.htm

Still need help, go to www.kadee.com, click on company infor, click on their E-Mail and their E-Mail reply form pops up.
Send your question to Sam Clarke, conversion specialist.
You should get a reply within 24 business hours. This is what Sam gets paid for.

[rogerhensley]

I prefer Kadee. I have tried a number of the others but have come back to Kadee. Now, for the conversion of the older cars, most had the 'talgo' coupler mounted on an arm of the trucks arrangement. I still have a number of those cars on my railroad that I converted.

Originally, I used the Kadee conversion that allowed you to mount the coupler on the arm of the trucks. That still left me with the situation of having the cars pushing against the wheels instead of the body when backing up. That is not the best thing.

Next, I tried cutting off the arm on the trucks and body mounting the Kadee number 5 with its mounting box directly on the car body. This worked much better especially if you change the wheelsets and put in better ones like Athearn. Changing the trucks themselves and body mounting the couplers is the best.

You can get more installation tips on the NMRA Web site in the beginner's pages at:
http://www.nmra.org/beginner/ under the improving rolling stock section.

Roger

[dknelson]

I have had pretty good luck over the years mounting Kadee #5s on the body of cars that had talgo-type trucks (couplers attached to the trucks)
But some trainset type cars also need more weight to run well.
If you are converting to Kadees (and I suggest you do) you really MUST get their coupler height jig. It not only assists on coupler height but also "air hose" height. In fact I suggest getting two for quickest checking of a newly completed car. But remember -- if that is also your test track for locomotives that the kadee coupler height jigs are all metal and short out the track.
Dave Nelson