Athearn RTR couplers

[Meyblc]

Yes, you can simply remove the factory installed Kadee clone couplers and install the Kadee. I have yet to find a car that i could not do this with. Then it only becomes a question of coupler height, as mentioned before.

[Anonymous]

Most of the time on the cars they're Bachmann EZ Mates, on the engines they're usually McHenrys.

[CP5415]

The couplers on most RTR are from Bachman.

Replace them with KD's when ever possible.

Gordon

[okiechoochoo]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Meyblc

The couplers that have come on my Athearn RTR cars have all been Kadee "clones." They seem to work well, but are not Kadee's. I always swap all couplers over to Kadee's no matter what comes on the Cars / Locomotives just to keep everything consistent on my layout. Be sure to use a coupler height guage to see if the couplers is at the height. Sometimes with Athearn RTR, the couplers may not be at the correct height to begin with.

Do the KDs you convert on Athearn RTR cars just fit without any problem except possible height issues.

[jfallon]

I think the couplers are Accumates. The ones I have are the old type with the plastic whisker to hold the knuckle closed. This whisker will lose its spring if the coupler is forced or held open for a period of time. As long as the cars are kept on a layout or stored in their original boxes, they work fine.

[Meyblc]

The couplers that have come on my Athearn RTR cars have all been Kadee "clones." They seem to work well, but are not Kadee's. I always swap all couplers over to Kadee's no matter what comes on the Cars / Locomotives just to keep everything consistent on my layout. Be sure to use a coupler height guage to see if the couplers is at the height. Sometimes with Athearn RTR, the couplers may not be at the correct height to begin with.

[Medina1128]

I purchased a couple Athearn 30K gallon tank cars that were NITB at a recent train show. They came with what I think were EZMate couplers. I think the trip pins on those couplers have a lower steel content, and don't work real well with Kadee automatic uncoupler magnets. When backing the cars over the magnets, the couplers tended to swing to the wrong side of the magnet, making uncoupling a real PITA. I attribute this to the weak plastic centering whiskers. I replaced them with Kadee #119s (whisker shelf couplers). Other than having to insert a Kadee red washer under the truck, they were a drop-in replacement, and uncouple like champs. This is just one reason, ALL of my rolling stock usually get Kadees before they ever touch the layout.