Couplers: To Kadee or not to Kadee.

[Jetrock]

My main problem with non-Kadee knuckle couplers is THEY BREAK OFF IF YOU STARE AT THEM CROSS-EYED! I have even had problems with Proto 2000 couplers (my P2K S1's coupler somehow got jammed the wrong way and refuses to open.) Kadees aren't perfect (especially when you lose the *&%$##%*@ spring) but they're solid, they're strong and they work every time.

[darth9x9]

Going Kadee is a no-brainer!!! I discard all of my crap-u-mate and mccrummy couplers.
I think it is awesome that Intermountain RTR cars come with Kadees....worth every penny!

[Anonymous]

Every car on my layout gets Kadee's on it before it is released to service.

[twhite]

I've come around to the fact that Kadee is still the most reliable coupler on the market, and am now replacing a lot of my rolling stock that formerly had EZ-mate or Accu-Mate couplers. One problem with Accumate is that if you have a heavy train on a downgrade, the Accumate will often split and hold open because of their particular shank, which means once you hit level, you have a train in about four disconnected sections if you're not careful.
As to replacing the Athearn RTR couplers, I finally got desperate and took a bunch to my local Parish Priest to have them Exorcised.

[mondotrains]

For the life of me, I've never understood why engine and rolling stock maufacturers didn't call up Kadee, make a deal to buy their couplers in bulk, and install them on all their engines and rolling stock. Instead, many of them decided to create the crappy plastic couplers many of you have already referred to. What a waste of time...on their part and on ours, to then have to remove them, toss them in the rubbish where they belong, and install Kadees.

I have to say that one of the reasons I respect the folks at Intermountain, besides the fact that they have wonderful engines and rolling stock, is that they did exactly what I had hoped others would do.....they sell their stuff with Kadee's already installed.

Well, like I used to tell my staff before I retired....not everyone wants to be the best...they may say it and then do stupid things anyway.

Enjoy those trains.
Mondo