Kadee #5 installation question

[lonewoof]

Some of my older cars (Roundhouse, Penn Line) had to have the cast-on coupler box removed to install Kadee #5's. I tried using a #2 screw through the center of the Kadee box, but had problems with the screw being too tight (coupler won't move freely) or too loose (box swivels side-to-side). I drilled and tapped holes through the "ears" on the side of the box, and used #00-90 screws. A little more trouble, but works nicely.

[retsignalmtr]

kadee has a tap and drill set which includes a 2-56 tap, a drill bit for the 2-56 screw and a clearance bit. when i install kadees i use the existing mount on the car. if there is no mount as when the original coupler was truck mounted i glue on the smaller part of the box that has the lip. then drill the hole into the floor with the tap bit, then tap the hole with the 2-56 tap. assemble the coupler and put in a 2-56 screw into the hole. you may have to cut off the screw if you are doing a flat, gondola or hopper car. don't overtighten as the screws are plastic and will pop off the heads.

[Anonymous]

Thanks Guy. I appriciate your help!

[Anonymous]

Wes,

I went out and looked at some P2K stock car kits I still have. The coupler box provided with the kit is a press fit lid that is meant to be glued in place. If the original cars had the couplers installed then, (presuming the lids were glued in place) to remove them you would pretty much have to destroy the box, hence your question about replacement. If you are looking at boxes that were never installed, then the #5's are a perfect fit for the box and you can press fit the tops on and glue em' if you like. There are many modelers who don't like to glue coupler box lids and I think the other advice given about screws is a good way to go if you don't want to glue the lid on the box.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Tweet469

Other LL P2K kits I have assembled had a molded draft gear box that a #5 kadee dropped right in.

Thats been my experience on all the other cars I've done. This kind of threw me for a loop. Kadee's instructions say you can glue the box on, but I don't really want to do that...

So 2-56 screws is what I need to use. Thanks guys

[Anonymous]

The center hole of a Kadee draft gear box clears a 2-56 machine screw. That's what I drill and tap for when I'm installing Kadee's draft gear box. I'm not familiar with LL P2K mather stock car. Other LL P2K kits I have assembled had a molded draft gear box that a #5 kadee dropped right in.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Trainnut1250

Wes,

Why new boxes?? The number 5's will fit directly in the boxes already on the cars with no mods (at least they did on the12 P2k Stock cars I built).

Thats my problem. The cars I have, have no molded on coupler boxes. Both the box and cover are seperate from the underframe. The underframe has a predrilled hole that looks like it's for screwing the coupler boxes into the frame, but the kits only came with two screws for the trucks...so what should I do?

[Anonymous]

The only time ive ever drilled and tapped for a #5 is when i was converting some old talgo coupler cars to body mount

[Don Gibson]

"TAP FOR A SCREW"? - #5's??

They fit into most molded-on coupler boxes, just using their flat spring.
IF box is metal use 30 series (Insulated)

iF coupler box requires a 'post' use a 2-56 screw.

[Anonymous]

Wes,

Why new boxes?? The number 5's will fit directly in the boxes already on the cars with no mods (at least they did on the12 P2k Stock cars I built).

[Anonymous]

Kadee's website is pretty useful for this sort of information - www.kadee.com and look under conversions. They have diagrams for fitting Kadees to almost anything including screw sizes, etc. I would guess (judging by my three P1k locos) that the cars will have been designed to have #5s dropped straight into the supplied boxes. Hope this helps!

[Anonymous]

I'm starting to convert some of my old cars to Kadee #5 couplers and I have a question. I have 4 Proto 2000 mather stock cars that came with the XF2 style couplers that were never installed. I'm wanting to use the new kadee coupler box and the Kadee instructions say to drill and tap for a screw, but I couldn't find what size screw I should use. Anyone know?

Are there other ways to install the #5's?

Thanks guys.