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Kadee #148 Couplers
Kadee #148 Couplers
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Anonymous
Member since
April 2003
305,205 posts
Kadee #148 Couplers
Posted by
Anonymous
on Saturday, January 28, 2006 11:49 AM
I have a question regarding the Kadee #148 couplers, has anyone used these yet, what do you think of them, and do they fit any standard coupler pocket? I saw the advertised on page 20 of Jan 06 MRR. Are they better to work than the standard #5 coupler. Cost is an irrelevant issue to me.
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chessiecat
Member since
October 2004
From: Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia
245 posts
Posted by
chessiecat
on Saturday, January 28, 2006 1:04 PM
I bought the only two packs my LHS had in stock. Thought I would give them a try on a pair of Bowser hopper cars. They are easier to fit together since they don't have the bronze spring to worry about but they have a fine wire on each side and you really have to look to make sure they are down in the coupler pocket. The spring action seems to be faster acting than the #5 couplers. I think they will fit anywhere a #5 will fit. Going to use the other set on a Atlas and a BLI engine to see how they work there. Hope to try them on a uncoupling ramp this evening. Jim
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DFORD
Member since
January 2004
40 posts
Posted by
DFORD
on Saturday, January 28, 2006 3:22 PM
My experience is limited to 2 pairs of these couplers, but the results have been good. I initially installed one pair on an Athearn car, and the other pair on a car with an unusual talgo hitch; all worked well. Later, I transferred the couplers to a pair of Athearn DD40X engines. The Kadee recommended coupler conversion for a DD40X calls for serious modifications to the coupler pockets, and the installation of coupler #38. The #148 coupler dropped in without any modification; and so far, all is working well. I agree with chessiecat above, you must watch those fine wire springs during the installation.
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GAPPLEG
Member since
January 2002
From: ERIE PA.
1,661 posts
Posted by
GAPPLEG
on Saturday, January 28, 2006 5:14 PM
i just bought three packages yesterday, don't know yet , I'm looking forward to replacing some couplers on some Athearn RTR.
Jerry SP FOREVER
http://photobucket.com/albums/f317/GAPPLEG/
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jondrd
Member since
April 2003
From: US
625 posts
Posted by
jondrd
on Saturday, January 28, 2006 5:32 PM
I used them on a Bachmann Spectrum 2-8-0 tender. Kadee maintains this tender would accept a #5. It wouldn't, popped in the #148 and bingo back on track. Put 'em on an Atlas covered hopper, Proto 1000 RS2 and Trainline FA pilot. All installations a piece of cake.
The coupler action is a lot like 30 series-easy movement side to side on
Kadee uncouplers
without the hassle of the #5's bloody spring. Sometimes after mounting a #5 I've put the unit back on track and the spring isn't doing its full thing side to side and returning to center position. #148's are much more consistent to get proper coupler action. [tup] [tup] [tup]
Oh, be sure and placate Kadee's lawyers and exercise proper caution with the coupler's whiskers. We don't want any injured hobbyists out there. I'm considering heating one up to the temperature of scalding hot coffee and dropping it in my lap. What did that plaintiff get from MacDonald's, $400K? The story will be that I had the coupler out of the package sitting on a shelf where it was exposed to the sun and after several hours.......[:D] [:D] [;)]
Go with 'em they're great. Kadee did good. [bow] [bow] [bow]
Jon
"We have met the enemy and he is us" Pogo via the art of Walt Kelly
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scubaterry
Member since
December 2004
From: Gainesville area
1,396 posts
Posted by
scubaterry
on Saturday, January 28, 2006 5:41 PM
I installed the 148's on six different cars so far. As was mentioned make sure both wires are free. It is a bear to see because they are so tiny. One whisker seems to like to hang up in the end of the coupler. Other than that I think I will use only the 148's in the future. One less tiny piece to fumble.
Terry[8D]
Terry Eatin FH&R in Sunny Florida
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dave9999
Member since
June 2003
From: Along the Murphy Branch
1,410 posts
Posted by
dave9999
on Saturday, January 28, 2006 6:25 PM
David,
I have tried 'em and I love 'em. I actually posted a topic after I installed my first pair, but
the forum search won't let me find it. Anyway, they are(so far) very nice. Easy to install and
center themselves everytime. Dave
GO GATORS !! Old layout
http://photobucket.com/albums/v491/davegator/
New layout
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v491/davegator/New%20Layout%20Building/
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Janafam
Member since
April 2001
From: New York State, US
110 posts
Posted by
Janafam
on Saturday, January 28, 2006 7:34 PM
And they fit in the #5 box?
Janafam
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Anonymous
Member since
April 2003
305,205 posts
Posted by
Anonymous
on Sunday, January 29, 2006 11:32 PM
Thank you for your replies, I will give them a try and if they work well that will be my change over coupler, I am concerned with what you have to say about the wire wiskers but we will try them.
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Anonymous
Member since
April 2003
305,205 posts
Posted by
Anonymous
on Monday, January 30, 2006 11:25 AM
I have #148's installed in about 20 cars so far. Much easier to install than #5's.
So far I have found no reason to not install more of them.
I will be replacing my 5's as they wear out, break, etc.
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Anonymous
Member since
April 2003
305,205 posts
Posted by
Anonymous
on Tuesday, January 31, 2006 8:05 AM
Reading from these post, I have to get the # 148 couplers, I have some cars that have poor working couplers.
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