I suspect that the bronze spring for the #5 acts as a shim.
Bear "It's all about having fun."
gmpullman I'm not sure of the total thickness of the combined thickness of the #5 shank and the bronze centering spring compared to the thickness of the # 148. In many of my coupler conversions, I find the #148 and all his whisker kin may have the potential to sag where a #5 WITH the bronxe spring will be a little stiffer in the box. You may have to experiment. Seems to me the Broadway coupler box/draft gear is solidly made and at the proper height for a #5. IF you want to use a #148 maybe you could clip the tabs off the bronze centering spring and use the flat piece as a shim in the box above the coupler? Good Luck, Ed
I'm not sure of the total thickness of the combined thickness of the #5 shank and the bronze centering spring compared to the thickness of the # 148.
In many of my coupler conversions, I find the #148 and all his whisker kin may have the potential to sag where a #5 WITH the bronxe spring will be a little stiffer in the box.
You may have to experiment. Seems to me the Broadway coupler box/draft gear is solidly made and at the proper height for a #5.
IF you want to use a #148 maybe you could clip the tabs off the bronze centering spring and use the flat piece as a shim in the box above the coupler?
Good Luck, Ed
Thats great information. I noticed that they were slightly sloppier than the #5's. Thanks.
Gary
For me, it's a little too late for sliding in a shim.
On occasion, when I've been troubled by a Kadee coupler hanging low, I've added a small strip of styrene across the bottom of the coupler box. I've been able to slide the shim in and carefully attach it without opening things up.
Ed
I opened the coupler box and the coupler is a #148. A shim is in order and I like your idea about using the bronze centering spring.
Ed, I have the AMTRAK version and the rear coupler is not at the proper height, is loose and sags. I have a stock of Kadee 148's and as issues arise with non-Kadee couplers or if I have to pull a shell, I replace the couplers. Guess I will have to deal with the SW1200 sooner rather than later.
Hi, Bearman
I have both an early run SW7 and a more recent one of the NW2, (647 and 2634 respectively).
I guess BLI is calling the Amtrak version a SW1200?
They both have what looks like a genuine Kadee #5 in them with the bronze centering spring. The "knuckle" operates. They don't open remotely like the MTH ones, which — as I understand — are troublesome.
Does anyone know what couplers Broadway Limited provides on their SW1200? According to the specs the SW1200 comes with "operating knuckle couplers".