Coupler trip pin removal

[secondhandmodeler]

For those of you that use Kadee couplers in HO, do you ever remove the trip pin?  I was assembling some old kits and while I added the couplers I thought, why do I leave those on there?  I uncouple using a bamboo skewer or whatever is available at he time.  I have never used magnets for uncoupling so I don't think I need them.  I trimmed them off a few cars and I wonder why I hadn't done that before.

Do you remove the trip pins from Kadee, or Kadee clones?  If not, why?

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Yes, I do. I just snip them off with a pair of wire clippers. I have to be careful on the shelf couplers as it's to snip off the bottom shelf as well.

[ratled]

I use Kadees in HO and cut off every trip pin.   I too use skewers to uncouple so there is no need for them.  I remove them because they just don't look right to me and that it makes one less thing I have to maintain. Eventually they will sag an catch a TO or cause a short.  This was the deciding factor for me when I first stared to remove them. 

I know some folks say to leave them on anyways if you ever want to sell the car but I think that so many folks are switching these days that it doesn't matter anyway. Even if I did leave them on and they weren't your brand of coupler, the buyer would just switch them out anyway...

 

Just my 2 cents

ratled

[Blind Bruce]

In all my years using KaDees, I have never even thought of removing the trip pins. Even though I don't use them right now, I do plan a RIX type of uncoupler for my new point to point layout.

 Besides that, they do simulate the air line connections (sort of).

I use the Kadee guage and adjust the pins when they are new and I haven't seen the need to readjust them since.

[selector]

I only remove the trip pins from the front couplers of locomotives.  They don't look realistic, and for my level, every wee bit helps.

[Hamltnblue]

If lined up correctly the trip pins will also help the couplers line up when coupling

[secondhandmodeler]

A couple yeas and a couple nays. That's what I figured.  I didn't remember seeing very many pictures with the trip pins cut off.  I cut them off of all my freight cars.  I guess there's no turning back now!

Thanks for the replies.

[Paul3]

Personally, I prefer to be as "hands free" as possible on my layout.  Therefore, I use magnets on all my yard tracks.  We used to have a sign at our club that said, "Only Great Big Giants Pick Up Little Trains".

It also makes for a faster switching time.

I find they are also critical on anything with a working diaphram, like passenger cars and car-body units like F's, E's, PA's, FA's, etc. 

Paul A. Cutler III

[Motley]

I prefer hands free as well. The only time I use the skewers, is when I'm switching the yard. All my industries have under the track magnets.

[riogrande5761]

Left mine on.  If you cut them off and change your mind, it would be rather expensive to replace hundreds of KD's!  ;-)

I'd leave em on if I were you.  Just bend em up a bit so they dont' interfere with trackage.

[Grampys Trains]

I'm with Crandell, on this. I've cut em off all my locos. DJ.

[ripvanwnkl]

My grandson and I leave the trip pins on since we use a mix of magnets and skewers to uncouple. 

We also use the Kadee #237 coupler trip pin pliers to bend all pins up before we put any rolling stock on track.  Then no problems with picking turnouts or other track. 

 

[wp8thsub]

I leave them on.  I use skewers for uncoupling and find it easier to pry the couplers open with the trip pins than by attempting to do so with the knuckles.

[secondhandmodeler]

I think my thoughts of cutting them off are based on the fact that I'm very hands on( I know, a no no) with my layout.  My turnouts are Peco without switch machines or ground throws, and I uncouple by hand.  I guess while looking at them I felt that since I didn't use them and I didn't like the way they looked, then off they go!  I only have a dozen box cars or so that fit my period so it wasn't a mass murder or anything! 

I'm surprised by the number of people using magnets.  I was under the impression that they weren't as widely used anymore.  Hence the question of why nobody cuts them off.  That reminds me that the impressions that I get aren't always right!

[tomikawaTT]

All of my Kadee MKD couplers have their trip pins in place.  Some have had them turned 180 degrees to get them out of the way, so they don't cause problems when the Great Hand of God rearranges things in cassette storage.

All of my Kadee K couplers have had their trip pins removed.  K couplers are only used where remote uncoupling (or uncoupling for any other operational reason) will never happen - inner cars of unit trains, inner couplings on cuts that will never be uncoupled, etc.  I don't have a single diamond ramp anywhere on my layout, so the trip pins would serve no purpose.

(For those unfamiliar, the Kadee K coupler was the original design, with a trip pin mounted vertically in the outer corner of the coupler knuckle.  It was intended to uncouple over a live diamond ramp that had to be raised to uncouple.)

Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)

[doctorwayne]

tomikawaTT

 

(For those unfamiliar, the Kadee K coupler was the original design, with a trip pin mounted vertically in the outer corner of the coupler knuckle.  It was intended to uncouple over a live diamond ramp that had to be raised to uncouple.)

Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)

 

That brings back a few memories, Chuck.  When I first started in HO, all of my cars and locos were fitted with Ks.  When the Magnematics were introduced, I chopped off the "airhose" whenever outfitting new rolling stock, as I thought it was ugly and looked nothing like an airhose.   Most of those couplers, and the old Ks, are still in use, mostly on MoW equipment.  I use the magnets on my staging tracks and also on a couple of industrial sidings - one is out of normal reach, and the other often requires use of the "delayed" feature, but I use the Rix tool or skewers elsewhere.

Here's one of the Ks:

 

While I never used these, I always thought that the coupler itself looked even better than the Kadee, although that trip pin was about as ugly as Kadee's "airhose".

 

 

 

If I were starting over, I'd use the Sergent couplers, but there's no way I'm retrofitting three of four hundred pieces of equipment. 

 

Wayne

[7j43k]

tomikawaTT

 It was intended to uncouple over a live diamond ramp that had to be raised to uncouple.

I think there was also a stub-end uncoupler for the K's.  It didn't have to lift up--you just backed into it and the couplers opened and then you pulled back out.  To pick up a car, you pushed it beyond the ramp and pulled back out--the coupler pin sorta "joggled" through the uncoupler but held.  Because of how it worked, it was pretty unsatisfactory on a main line--way too much "joggling"--hence the lift-up diamond style.

 

Ed

[pastorbob]

I have used Kadee exclusively since early 1960's.  I also leave the trip pins for the same reasons.  I have a lot of magnets, mostly on harder to skewer (reach) sidings and such, but I also use the under track mags in major yards to facilitate switching moves.  To each their own.

Bob

 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Photographic evidence that my trip pins get clipped.

 

[WSOR 3801]

Most of my engines have the trip pins removed.  The pins usually catch on the plows and such, and uncouple at inopportune times. 

On this engine, the pin would catch on the bottom of the pilot.

On cars, I have been trimming those back, roughly in line with the vertical edge of the knuckle.  This helps avoid plow interference, and I feel looks a bit better, looking more like the coupling of the air hoses.  The trimmed ones also don't get caught on high crossings and such. 

[mobilman44]

Hi!

I've been using KDs since the 1970s, and while I have tried some of the other brands, KD always seems to be more reliable.  

To answer your question.......  I suggest leaving the trip pins in place, as they add the ability to uncouple (electronically) and add some bit of realism.   I use a KD adjusting pliers and bend them up a tad, so they won't foul at turnouts.  

I have had to cut a few down that were on the head end of E units.   This was due to the inability of passenger cars to get close enough to couple.   Yes, I could have replaced those couplers with longer shanks, but that would just not look right (IMHO).

One other point...   If you ever decide to sell cars/locos with cut off coupler "hoses", it will possibly reduce their value.

[NevinW]

I've always cut them off.  Looks better and less interference with operation.  I used a screwdriver or skewers to uncouple.  Have never used magnets.  -  Nevin