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"Scale" couplers vs. everything else

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  • Member since
    October 2004
  • From: 5 miles west of Erie GE Locomotive Division
  • 170 posts
"Scale" couplers vs. everything else
Posted by trainnut57 on Thursday, December 4, 2008 11:34 AM

SoapBoxHas anyone had any problems when attempting to connect one car with the slightly smaller "scale" couplers to the standard KD's, McHenry, E-Z Mate, etc couplers?  I have been having trouble not only coupling but uncoupling, either automatically or by use of the 5-fork skycrane method (my hand). I understand the "scale" couplers are more prototypically correct, but the question is are they realy worth the effort when 330 out of 345 freight cars in my growing pool have either Kd"s or other standard couplers. It just seems that the scale couplers do not seat well with the standards or am I doing something wrongQuestion

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  • From: North Jersey
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Posted by ns3010 on Thursday, December 4, 2008 5:46 PM

Try to standardize your fleet with one kind of coupler. Pick either a "standard" coupler or a scale one. Using both works just about as well as knuckle couplers and horn-hooks. They are absolutely not compatible. IMO, they should make scale couplers the "standard size coupler" for the hobby.

Tags: knuckle , Couplers

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  • Member since
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Posted by Guilford Guy on Thursday, December 4, 2008 6:22 PM
I've found my #58 equipped cars will couple to #5 equipped cars, but it is a pain to uncouple them. #5's work the best in terms of manual uncoupling IMHO.

Alex

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Posted by Midnight Railroader on Friday, December 5, 2008 10:57 AM

ns3010
They are absolutely not compatible. IMO, they should make scale couplers the "standard size coupler" for the hobby

It took long enough for "them" to make knuckle couplers standard on RTR euqipment; I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for them to re-standardize on scale-size couplers.

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  • From: Orig: Tyler Texas. Lived in seven countries, now live in Sundown, Louisiana
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Posted by jeffrey-wimberly on Friday, December 5, 2008 11:12 AM

 Find one coupler that you like and make that your standard. I prefer the Kadee #5 and #148 and they're all I use except for special cases that require something different.

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Posted by Don Gibson on Friday, December 5, 2008 12:02 PM

BEST RESULTS are obtainened whrn engaging couplers match exactly. (That includes Kadee).

Tags: Couplers
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