Sergent Engineering couplers review

 Here I will give you my first impressions as it pertains to my purchase of 15 pair of Sergent Engineering couplers.

I knew about this product for a few years now but I have been reluctant to take the plunge.  With permission from the boss, I placed an order for 15 pair of the couplers (5x6pack), an assembly jig and an uncoupling wand (absolutely nessesary).

The couplers themselves are diecast and have no flash.  You get the feeling of quality the moment you open your first package.  Then you realize that the couplers are small...they are scale....and they are a sight to behold!

Each coupler has 4 parts;

1.  Upper coupler mold

2.  Lower coupler mold

3.  Knuckle

4.  Ball bearing.

Assembly is easy, and only takes a few minutes a coupler.  The assembly jig is a must.  Assembled couplers are available, but 4 assembled couplers are the same price as 6 un-assembled.  This version of the coupler is the Kadee compatable one...more on that later.

The magic is in the ball bearing.  It drops (via gravity) and locks the knuckle closed.  When it is brought up (via magnet wand), it unlocks the knuckle.   Simple.  We like simple.

Here are 2 comparative photos.  The first Van has a Kadee-clone coupler and the second an SE coupler.

Note that these couplers lack a centering spring (just like the prototype) so the coupler has side to side slop..  That way, coupling on curves is no longer an issue, you just need to line up the knuckles.

Also note the open knuckle.  Yes, you can now have an open knuckle.  Try THAT with a Kadee or clone...fo-get-a-bout-it.

If you want to use the standard Kadee box, you need to file the neck of the coupler down ever-so-slightly to get it to not bind.  Only a few swipes from a file will accomplish this.

To operate the coupler, you take these steps.

Notice the wire at the end of the uncoupling tool?  That gives you leverage to open the knuckle when you apply the wand.

Finally, here is a short video (poor quality) that shows the couplers in action.  Note that only ONE of the knuckles needs to be open for a handshake to occur.  Both can be open as well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QdsIssp7I2g

I am excited by this product.  Sure, you no longer can uncouple remotely, but remember that the prototype cannot as well.

Hope you enjoyed this review.  If you have any questions, I would be happy to answer them.

David B 

 The Kadee compatible draftgear box takes away from the appearance of the Sergent. They sell them with the Accumate:Proto HO gearbox which looks more like the prototype.

The Accumate draftgear box on the left with their "scale" coupler looks so much better. The Sergent is on the right with the KD compatible box. I use the Accumate:Proto HO couplers, I found they work well and look really good on the layout.

Harold

You were going to talk about the Kadee compatabilty?

Bapou:

I like the looks of those couplers, can you provide a link please?

My major gripe about these couplers is the apparent problems in uncoupling passenger cars or car body locos (like F-units and FA's) where there is a diaphram.  The diaphram prevents one from getting the magnetic wand over the ball bearing in the coupler, which means that one can't uncouple the cars without lifting one over the other.

And since the NH's locos were almost always both freight and passenger, I can't seriously consider any coupler that won't work with passenger cars...no matter how much nicer they look (and they do look nice).

Paul A. Cutler III
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Weather Or No Go New Haven
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Thanks for the review, David.  I've been waiting to see what anyone else thought of the Sergent Engineering couplers.  Based on your comments, I have ordered a couple packages of the kits, the uncoupling tool, and assembly jig to give them a try.

 Oh, they are NOT Kadee compatable.  Sorry guys.

David B

Paul3:

My major gripe about these couplers is the apparent problems in uncoupling passenger cars or car body locos (like F-units and FA's) where there is a diaphram.  The diaphram prevents one from getting the magnetic wand over the ball bearing in the coupler, which means that one can't uncouple the cars without lifting one over the other.

And since the NH's locos were almost always both freight and passenger, I can't seriously consider any coupler that won't work with passenger cars...no matter how much nicer they look (and they do look nice).

Paul A. Cutler III
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Weather Or No Go New Haven
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There has to be a solution.  I agree with you, as I have alot of passenger equipment.  I dont run them on my home layout, but I do run them at shows with my FreeMo group.

Perhaps a stronger rare earth magnet or the like? 

David B

I think that it would work with a stronger type of rare earth mag.--There is someone here that I've seen use one--but you have to be a little more careful with how you do this---it probably would take practice as well.

 To tell you the truth, with close coupling and diaphragm, its not very noticeable what type of knuckle is under there... Perhaps just addding them to one end of the head end cars, as well as the tail car on the train?

David,

Thank you for your short review. I have one question though - 

How do they work?

I understand how they couple and uncouple, but how do they work? Do they break apart on a long climb, on a long train? Does slack snap them by the end of the train? Do they uncouple by accident on "real" (less-than-glass-smooth rail)? What about crossovers?

I realize that you only recently got them, but I'm very interested in hearing your comments after they've had some operational road testing.

Thanks in advance!

 How do they work?  Well I havent had much time to play yet, but so far I have a few idea....

1.  They couple and uncouple but require more attention than your Kadee.  You need to line them up to couple (and have alteast one knuckle open) and use the magnet to uncouple.

2.  Slack is a non-issue, because there is next to none.  They couple tight, just like the prototype.  No more Mr-Slinky.

3.   They cannot uncouple because the ball bearing locks the knuckle in place.  There are 2 ways to open the knuckle; turn the unit upside down or use the magnet.

4.  Remember that because they couple tight, there is more face area contact or more friction between the couplers.  Kadees just have a point of contact while these have a full knuckle contact.

5.  Cross overs and tight switches are dependant on your draft gear box.  If you use Kadee boxes (of their equivilant) then you have lots of side to side play.  You can even couple on 15" radius if you want to (think about those tight industrial sidings).

I have come across a downside; car wieght and wheel friction.  It would be preferable to have heavier rolling stock with not-so-free rolling wheels.  This will give the 'mass' feeling that is lost with Kadees.  

Anyways, off to work.  Just wanted to jot down some thoughts before I head out.

David B

I have always been intrigued by these, though I am not in HO I still like to keep up with things.  They are basically operating on the same principles as a real coupler.  Its very interesting, but I would also wonder about the compatability with other brands, after all even an X2F mates with a kadee if done right.  I actually was so impressed with the Kadee "Scale" couplers that I bought a set, can't use them on my trains but love the appearance.

These couplers are not a good choice for most.  For clubmembers, I doubt many other members' cars would have them, assuming you expect to operate with another person's cars...  ( I've lived a protected life and have never been at a club where members switch the consist of their trains.  Operations seem to be "I'll put my train on the track and run it around the layout."  So, maybe that's not a problem in a club setting....Bad example.)...  Now, if I was into to Proto87, with scale wheel treads and almost-so flanges and the accompanying almost-scale tolerances in turnouts, then I'd likely go with the Sergent's if operations were "easy going" and exceedingly accessible.   Nevertheless, the extra hassle of aligning couplers and opening them to couple is not consistent with an operationally-busy layout.  So, Sergents aren't consistent with my needs.

Mark