Couplers

[Billba]

One of the magazine's ran a comparison a few years ago. The plastic knuckle couplers would pull out with a few ounces of force. I believe that Kadee's couplers needed three or four pounds to pull out the knuckle. Sergent Engineering looks promising.
Trainfreek92,
Kadee does make N scale couplers. A lot of HO narrow gauge modelers us them when the HOn3 #714 couplers are not available.

[trainfreek92]

i model N sclae so i like Micro-trains. not sure if kadde makes n scale couplers do they???

[Howardr]

I'm really new to all of this but I have had trouble with the centering sping on Kadee's in the past. I have replaced a number of horn hook couplers with both Bachmann EZ Mate's and McHenery's and both perform without any problems. I don't run long trains yet but in the future when I do I would switch to Kadee.

Although Kadee came up with a good HO coupler a long time ago and their patent has expired if some one comes along with a product which work as good and maybe at a better price than that's technology at work and I feel it's just fine to but such a product.[:o)]

[Texas Zepher]

QUOTE: Originally posted by rexhea

As and if I have 'stock' coupler problems, I always replace them with Kadee.

ALMOST [#ditto], the problem is I that always immediately have trouble with the ones that come on Atlas locos & Walthers passenger cars. It took a while to streach out the ones that came on the Genesis F7s.

[Anonymous]

Mark, you are most ethical. Good for you!

QUOTE: Originally posted by Brunton

I refuse to use anything but Kadees.

Whether they work better than anyone else's is almost immaterial to me - when Kadees patents expired, several other companies / people took Kadees designs (with a few modifications to make it legal) and started marketing their own version of the couplers. Even though it's legal I don't like it, so I don't support those other couplers.

[ClinchValleySD40]

Kadee hands down, I've tried them all.

[Pruitt]

I refuse to use anything but Kadees.

Whether they work better than anyone else's is almost immaterial to me - when Kadees patents expired, several other companies / people took Kadees designs (with a few modifications to make it legal) and started marketing their own version of the couplers. Even though it's legal I don't like it, so I don't support those other couplers.

[Anonymous]

I haven't had problems with the locomotives and rolling stock that have come with non-Kadee knuckle couplers installed, therefore have not replaced them, and its a boon for all of us that some of the Kadee patents have run out so there are other options. For example, I believe that manufacturers would be much less willing to install knuckle couplers if they had to pay the Kadee price. BUt having said that, I always use Kadee when I have to retrofit something. They have the most options, and a Kadee in a Kadee box IS still the best.

[on30francisco]

I use Kadee HO # 5s on all my On30 logging rolling stock that I build. The Bachmann locos come with their EZ mate couplers. Although the EZ mates will mate with Kadees, I changed them to Kadees. The jury's still out on the preferred coupler for On30 and the decision is between the HO # 5 and the Kadee On3 coupler. For logging, industrial, and other small locos and rolling stock, I think the Kadee # 5s are just right. For my HO equipment, I use Kadees exclusively.

[Anonymous]

If you're gonna use knuckle couplers, Kadee just cannot be beat. Personally, I'm using link and pin couplers.

[rexhea]

As and if I have 'stock' coupler problems, I always replace them with Kadee. I must add that the rolling stock that came with the new McHenry's haven't given me any problems.

REX

[DavidGSmith]

Kadee, I have others and because I don't run long trains they haven't caused any problems. I got a set of the new Wisker type KD given out as a sample at a convention.. I haven't used them yet but they look like the way to go, no more brass spring things for #5s.

[csmith9474]

The only problem I have heard with Kadees is either replacing springs or shorts with brass cars, which can be remedied with proper insulation.

[Anonymous]

I'm guessing my answer would be yes.[^] or [V] [tup] or [tup]

[MisterBeasley]

Is anyone surprised at the result?

[AntonioFP45]

I've used Kadees and McHenry's.

For durability and hard coupling it's hard to beat Kadees.

[cwclark]

kadee! kadee! kadee! kadee! kadee! kadee! kadee! kadee!....they're the best!

[icmr]

Kadee.



ICMR

Happy Railroading.[swg][swg]

[Anonymous]

I have a mix of Kadee's and McHenrys(the more recent ones with the coil spring that holds the knuckle closed). I've yet to have a McHenry of this style fail, but then again I don't try to operate 200 car freights. On the club layout where I go it is possible to have 50-60 car consists and I don't recall anyone breaking any of them. Still for all the odd situations that require special couplers Kadee does have them all beat.

Bob DeWoody

[csmith9474]

In my OPINION, Kadees are by far the best coupler for the money. I require several different lengths of shanks and designs. Kadee couplers have never failed for me. I am waiting for somebody to bring up the Sergent Engineering couplers.

[Anonymous]

I bought a 12 pack of EZ-Mates in November. I didn't know that Kadee's were better. Would it be worth it to sell my current couplers or keep them for later use?

[Anonymous]

everybody seems to prefer Kadee but i still use a large number of horn-hook- but i voted Kadee

[joeyegarner]

Kadees . Period. forget everythng else!! Kadees are worth the money and all the rest are nothing but a waste of money.

[Anonymous]

Please speify if I should add some. I'm just wondering whether I should change to Kadee's from EZ-Mates.