BRAKIE NHTX Anybody who advises conversion to horn/hook or X2f couplers in today's world does not know what they are talking about! Unless they have hands on experience with X2F coupler and know they work quite well when correctly body mounted.. I fully understand most modelers experience with X2F couplers was their cheap train set truck mounted X2F coupler.
NHTX Anybody who advises conversion to horn/hook or X2f couplers in today's world does not know what they are talking about!
Unless they have hands on experience with X2F coupler and know they work quite well when correctly body mounted..
I fully understand most modelers experience with X2F couplers was their cheap train set truck mounted X2F coupler.
Yeah, it was the truck mounting that was the reverse problem. They stay very well coupled when backing up because they're practically lower shelf couplers. Very robust locking in both directions of travel, which was why they were so tricky to intentionally uncouple!
With all due respect to them - I went there on occassion when there was one in my area - Hobbytown USA is sort of a "jack of all trades" hobbyshop, with a little of everything. If you check around, you can probably find a more specifically train-oriented hobby shop in your area that will give you better service / advice.
One reason you may be seeing couplers of 'different sizes' is that some companies now provide their equipment with scale-head sized couplers. The Kadee No.5 is a bit oversized compared to real couplers, and Kadee and other companies make ones that are closer to the real size. However, they are all designed to be able to couple to each other, so shouldn't need replacing.
Also, after Kadee's patent expired a while back, a lot of companies began making their own versions of Kadee-type knuckle couplers, so often a freight car you buy will come with a coupler made by the company that made the car rather than 'actual' Kadees. Again, they should work with Kadee or other HO knuckle couplers OK. However, in my experience, the copies made of plastic tend to wear out much faster than metal-headed Kadees will.
NittanyLionVery robust locking in both directions of travel, which was why they were so tricky to intentionally uncouple!
Actually a small flat tip jeweler's screwdriver was one of the best methods for uncoupling the X2F.It worked like today's bamboo skewer for uncoupling KDs..
While the X2F certainly served its purpose quite well I would never advocate using them since the KD is superior.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
.
Just buy a couple packs of Kadee #148 couplers. If they work, which they will at least 80% of the time, you are done. If you need a special Kadee coupler, then go and figure it out on their very good website.
It is pretty simple. Have fun. I hope your son enjoys the hobby for a long time. It has a few frustrations, and a learning curve, but it is the greatest lifetime hobby out there.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
The plastic horn hook couplers always were terrible. My dad began converting our equipment over to Kadee when I was a kid in the 1970's and we never looked back. Real genuine Kadee couplers are the way to go, period.
Best wishes to you and your son.
John
Brakie, my experience with X2f couplers goes back to pre-1960 and as I progressed in the hobby, I knew from my tinplate days that there was something deficient in "talgo" trucks, (remember them?) As long as you didn't try reverse moves with a fair sized train, you were OK. Thus all of my Mantua, AHM and others with truck mounted couplers were rapidly converted to body mounts, but still horn-hooks. Their side-thrust issues made realistic switching tortuous in the least. I began an aggressive conversion to Kadees and have never looked back. Any car I put into service now gets 153s or 156s with 153s being first choice regardless of what it had when taken out of the box. I encourage the young man to convert now while his roster is managable because if he does go beyond his current place in the hobby and tries to "operate" with horn-hooks, the frustration might drive him to video games or maybe macrame'. I speak from experience.
NHTX I encourage the young man to convert now while his roster is managable because if he does go beyond his current place in the hobby and tries to "operate" with horn-hooks, the frustration might drive him to video games or maybe macrame'. I speak from experience.
There was operation way back in the 50s and I switched many freight and passenger cars at the Columbus HO club due to the layout being point to point and every train had to be switched and at home on my ISL.. That's my experience.
Like the KD the X2F had to be correctly mounted and at the proper height. I converted the first time in '68 when the club voted in the KD as the standard coupler..After getting out of the Army in '77 I used X2Fs for about two years.. I traded that small collection for N Scale in '79 and when I return to HO in '90 I used KDs.
PRR8259 Real genuine Kadee couplers are the way to go, period.
Walthers Protomax II coupler is another good option since its all metal like KD's #5..In fact you can't tell the two apart and the Protomax II works equally well.
Thank you, everyone! My son's love for trains started when he was a toddler. He spent HOURS playing with his wooden set. I never would have thought that he'd still love it so much, but it thrills me. This Harvey came straight from his heart, and now my husband and I are trying to figure out all these details about model trains; so we can help him keep this passion alive! We just had no idea there were SO MANY details! Haha
I appreciate all your responses. I now know I can come out here to this forum for great answers! Because, I will no doubt have many more questions down the road!
Hello all,
HOTrainmomI now know I can come out here to this forum for great answers! Because, I will no doubt have many more questions down the road!
That is a huge compliment to all on these forums!
Thank you.
Hope this helps.
"Uhh...I didn’t know it was 'impossible' I just made it work...sorry"
Glad to hear his enthusiasm is real; and that we haven't blown you away with too many choices.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
HOTrainmom, we're so happy to help and encourage a young man in the enjoyment and enthusiasm for a hobby that will expose him to so many aspects of the world he lives in. If you haven't done so, consider a gift subscription to Model Railroader magazine. Each month he will be exposed to new skills and problem-solving that will serve him well in later life. Happy model railroading!