McHenry versus Kadee couplers

[Melchoir]

Any thoughts on what is overall the best coupler and what are each couplers strong and weak points.Which coupler is closer to scale and which is more compatible with other couplers? Thanks Michael

[WSOR 3801]

Stick with Kadee.  Much less problems.  They last much longer, and are far more durable.  I have tried all the cheapies-McHenry, Intermountain, Accumate- and all have been replaced by Kadee.  Make sure everything matches the coupler gauge.  Kadee 58 are closer to scale size, but are less forgiving of uneven trackwork.

Sergent Engineering makes scale couplers.  They may or may not couple with Kadee.  They also act like 1:1 scale couplers: have to be opened before coupling, not self-centering, etc.  Some guys like that, but I have enough of that at work.  I prefer to push the cars together and have them couple, and not uncouple until I want them to. 

 

[Pathfinder]

Stick with Kadee.  Much less problems.  They last much longer, and are far more durable.  I have tried all the cheapies-McHenry, Intermountain, Accumate- and all have been replaced by Kadee.  Make sure everything matches the coupler gauge.  Kadee 58 are closer to scale size, but are less forgiving of uneven trackwork.

....

 

  Same here, tried them all but only the KD's hang in.  I find the plastic KD wannabes too soft and easily broken or deformed. 

[loathar]

IMHO, the only thing that McHenry had going for it was the built in centering spring. (don't like the brass KD centering springs) But since KD came out with the "Whisker" coupler, there is NO sense in buying McH's. KD even has the shelf couplers out in Whiskers now.
Just waiting on the offset standard head versions...

[BRAKIE]

I field tested the McHenry scale coupler (that the one with a metal knuckle spring) at the club and it worked ok for awhile..However the coupler was prone to the knuckle collapsing while shoving long cuts of stock weight(not RP20.1 weighted) cars during yard switching..

The KD remains the best coupler.

 

[Packer]

The only things McHenries have going for them is their price and commonality.

They come with most cars, and only cost around 1.00 a pair, as opposed to kadees which are twice as much. But you'll break dozens of McHenries before a Kadee breaks.

Any one know about the new P2k couplers, btw?

[Melchoir]

Thanks for the replies everybody.Just  purchased some new cabooses from True Line Trains and they are nice but come with McHenry couplers on them Couplers are advertised as being to scale but seem a little smaller than # 5 Kadees.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

I use McHenry couplers to make a pile of scrap couplers. There's no beating Kadee's for endurance and pulling. On a pull test the Kadee did eventually fail but it failed at a point way beyond what the meter could measure (the meter topped out at 11+ pounds). If you want a scale size coupler, Kadee has that also. The #58 scale size coupler. http://www.kadee.com/htmbord/page351.htm

 

[cwclark]

  There are a lot of things in this hobby that might work and then again might not. KADEE couplers are one of those things that work and are just plain reliable.   i'd go with the KADEE coupler anyday over the Mchenry and others....chuck

[jamnest]

KDs for me.  I tried the McHenry and Accumate.  Thought I was going to save money.  I ended up spending more money and time by replacing them with KDs.

One protypical note about the McHenry copulers.  I model the KCS and was experimenting with different grades versus length of trains as I am planning a helper district.  I had four Athearn BB SD40-2 pulling a 45 car train up a 2.5% grade.  The train came apart.  The McHenery coupler failed and broke apart from the strain.  Same problems the prototype KCS had.  The KCS used to run 6 to 8  F3/7 units to pull long freights over the mountains.  They now use helper units.  I replaced the broken coupler several times as I had a bulk pack and they failed several more times.  This has not been a problem with KDs. 

[Mr. SP]

Kadee is the ONLY coupler to use. The Maybee Mates are just junk. The plastic is slippery and soft and just dosen't hold up. Our club has outlawed the imposters and the horney-hooks too.

Be sure to install the Kadee's with the height gauge. Allow for maintenance or repair with your instalation too. Never know when a derailment or other mishap might break a coupler. I use Kadee trucks on my rolling stock where Kadee makes a correct truck.

[Melchoir]

Since I think I have a lot of probably # 5 Kadees on other rollinh stock..would a # 5 work ok as a replacement instead of the McHenryies..Is # 58 Kadee their scale version and their # 5 everybody's favorite...Thought I would just ask

[Pathfinder]

Since I think I have a lot of probably # 5 Kadees on other rollinh stock..would a # 5 work ok as a replacement instead of the McHenryies..Is # 58 Kadee their scale version and their # 5 everybody's favorite...Thought I would just ask

Yes, the 58 is the scale version while the 5 is the do almost everything version.  But each set up is different so you may need one of KDs other ones.  For example, on my Atlas FP7 I have to use an offset shank (can't remember the no.) as the mounting is very low.

[selector]

I field tested the McHenry scale coupler (that the one with a metal knuckle spring) at the club and it worked ok for awhile..However the coupler was prone to the knuckle collapsing while shoving long cuts of stock weight(not RP20.1 weighted) cars during yard switching..

The KD remains the best coupler.

 

, and with cuts that jerk like a caterpillar.  I use them until they p. me off the first time, and then they get yanked for Kadees.

[wgnrr]

Any coupler with a knuckle spring with a piece of plastic is junk.

My favorite coupler to work with is the McHenry scale coupler, which is the equivilent of the Kadee #58 (I think that's it). Why my favorite? Never failed on me, good price, spring in the knuckle, I have bought a ton of them, and have them to work with all of the time.

If you are running trains longer than 15 cars, Kadees are the best choice as they will last longer.

However, for a person like me who runs trains that are about 10-15 cars max, I like the McHenry scale coupler.

I find #5s too hard to work with on many cars, i.e. the copper centering spring. I want to get some whisker couplers from Kadee, but since the actual running of my engines and cars are second to detail and display, Kadees are not often bought.

Phil

[pastorbob]

At last count on the computer data base, around 1710 freight cars on my Santa Fe, on the railroad, on storage tracks, on shelves, all have Kadee wouldn't touch anything else.  Some of the cars are well over 20 years old, the Kadees still run as they did from day one.

Bob

[Tilden]

  Use the KD's.  I replace other brands immediately, don't even wait for them to fail.  The one exception is my Athearn RTR cars and I haven't found the time to...COMPLETELY DIS-ASSEMBLE THE UNDERSIDE OF THE CAR... just to replace the couplers.

Tilden

[DigitalGriffin]

Boy I bet the competition is feeling beat down after this thread.

BTW: Another vote for Kadee here. Their support is second to none.

 

[Rotorranch]

Kadee, without a doubt!

Rotor

[highhood63]

I wanted to like Mchenry I really did....but you get what you pay for Kadee all the way. I will say that Mchenry has imrpoved over where they were a couple years back, they still aren't there yet though.

[howmus]

Like most everybody else, I only use Kadees.  Every new car that goes on my layout gets both Kadee couplers and Kadee trucks with metal wheelsets.  I have had zero problems with either..... ever!

[jsoderq]

I will point out there is a lot of stuff that "regular "couplers won't fit which is why Kadee (and only Kadee) has so many different types. Kadee is the only one to take the coupler business seriously. Also, try to get some technical help from McHenry.

[Melchoir]

This has been a good discussion...My final question on this one is reallly quite obivious..Since Kadee is a favorite of most modellers..why mot make it an industry standard of all future RTR equipment. The difference in cost wouldn't be that great and I for one wouldn't mind paying a little extra knowing the quality was there for my money..Any thoughts on this one..

Enjoy your layouts..It's a clean vice we have mates, and one that keeps on giving

Michael

[Tilden]

  This question comes up periodically.  Originally it had to do with patents.  By now most of the original patents have expired, some of the newer items like the Whisker may have current patents.  I've heard the current reason is cost.  Kadee's are metal and made in the USA (by people who care!) and therefore simply cost more.  Appearently enough more that those making such decisions feel it isn't worth it.
  As some of the replies indicate, people will run the couplers until they fail and only then replace them.  That's probally good enough for some manufacturers.

Tilden 

[dinwitty]

I think the industry wised up and got away from the "NMRA" horn hook coupler defaults, one model I got had kadee clones installed and in the corner in a pocket were hornhooks!!

I'm not sure why the industry wont use default Kadees, obviously McHenry's are cheaper, so I guess they made a price move. I have a test loop of track, my BLI 2-6-6-4 so far is fine with a shorty bunch of cars, and some new equipment I got have the clones. I'll leavem alone for now till they bust, then throw kadees on, its not on my priority list to change them for now.  Layout building now. If your already running big trains and going up/down grades, better go kadee.

The model trains really can have the same torque effects of the prototype and a plastic coupler is going to fail. If I get my Big Boy pulling the paint off the wall I don't think a McHenry's gonna work...

 At least my DM&IR 2-8-8-4 is gonna get kadees and the big coal drags its gonna haul aint gonna have plastic couplers...

 

 

[CAZEPHYR]

 

         Kadee's only.  

         Any other coupler is a broken coupler sooner or later.    

 

 

[simon1966]

I use Kadee on everything except one application and that is for a set of IHC passenger cars. McHenry makes a drop in coupler for these with a metal knuckle spring and for my money they work just fine in this application.  Of course the IHC passenger cars are probably the cheapest made passenger cars known to man, but with a bit of care and attention can work OK.  The Mchenry couplers happen to be a simple inexpensive option in this particular case. 

[stevechurch2222]

I would go with Kadees all the way.I have seen the new whisker couplers and am very impressed by them.When I get my future layout going I am going with Kadees. Steve Church Milwaukee road Iowa Division

[Rotorranch]

I use Kadee on everything except one application and that is for a set of IHC passenger cars. McHenry makes a drop in coupler for these with a metal knuckle spring and for my money they work just fine in this application.  Of course the IHC passenger cars are probably the cheapest made passenger cars known to man, but with a bit of care and attention can work OK.  The Mchenry couplers happen to be a simple inexpensive option in this particular case. 

That's probably the best description I have ever heard!

Rotor

[RRTrainman]

I use both with no problems.  Kadee's are the best all round couplers on the market.  Mchenry couplers mate up the best with kadee's.  Kadee's would be my first choice.