It's true the whisker couplers don't work well in every kit coupler box - that's why it's good to have different kinds on hand.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
SROC99 Harrison, the box spring is designed to "only" to be installed "on top of the coupler". If you look closely at at the spring you will see a big difference in the spring arms. As mentioned, there's a strong and weak side to help with uncoupling and delayed action. Also, note the end of the shank on the #5 type of couplers have different angles that are not symmetrical and these match the different spring arm angles. This is why it's important to always have the spring on top. If the spring is installed on the bottom it may work OK but eventually there will be problems. Note that when the couplers are coupled and in operation this takes the centering spring out of the performance issue so the spring on the bottom has no affect. It's when the coupler has to be uncoupled and centered properley that problems will arise and the spring may wear out faster. Remember that this is all late 1950s technology which is still the most popular in our coupler line, presently even more than our whisker couplers. Sam Clarke R&D Kadee Quality Products
Harrison, the box spring is designed to "only" to be installed "on top of the coupler". If you look closely at at the spring you will see a big difference in the spring arms. As mentioned, there's a strong and weak side to help with uncoupling and delayed action. Also, note the end of the shank on the #5 type of couplers have different angles that are not symmetrical and these match the different spring arm angles. This is why it's important to always have the spring on top. If the spring is installed on the bottom it may work OK but eventually there will be problems. Note that when the couplers are coupled and in operation this takes the centering spring out of the performance issue so the spring on the bottom has no affect. It's when the coupler has to be uncoupled and centered properley that problems will arise and the spring may wear out faster. Remember that this is all late 1950s technology which is still the most popular in our coupler line, presently even more than our whisker couplers.
Sam Clarke R&D Kadee Quality Products
Kudos to you folks at Kadee. You have been producing top quality products for a very long time. When knock-off couplers came on the market I gave them a try but none worked as well as the originals. Whether I am adding a kit built or RTR car to my layout, I discard the couplers they came with and replace them with a KD. Your whisker couplers were a great innovation and now my coupler of choice although last year my LHS was out of the whisker couplers and I bought the good old #5 instead. It's a little more work but they still operate great.
SPSOT fan I noticed a bit back that there is a right and wrong way to put a #5 in, but I don’t think it would seriously effect operations if the springs were in wrong. I don’t think I have actually ever put the springs in on the wrong side, but I have on numerous occasions put the entire coupler upside down so the trip pin was pointing up! I can confirm they will not work properly if you put them in that way!
I noticed a bit back that there is a right and wrong way to put a #5 in, but I don’t think it would seriously effect operations if the springs were in wrong.
I don’t think I have actually ever put the springs in on the wrong side, but I have on numerous occasions put the entire coupler upside down so the trip pin was pointing up! I can confirm they will not work properly if you put them in that way!
Me too! Glad I'm not the only one who has done that.
riogrande5761It's true the whisker couplers don't work well in every kit coupler box - that's why it's good to have different kinds on hand.
.
I nearly always mount my Kadee couplers in Kadee coupler boxes. The only exceptions to this are a few flat cars and tank cars where the design of the car makes it impossible to use a Kadee box. I probably only have 10 or fewer cars with the original manufacturer's coupler boxes installed.
I get perfect performance like this. I do not take chances with wheels, couplers, or track.
The Kadee #242 snap together coupler box works flawlessly with whisker couplers, and is a simple breeze to use.
Kadee makes the "narrow" #262 coupler box specifically for whisker couplers, and that one has become the coupler mounting option of choice on the STRATTON AND GILLETTE.
-Kevin
Living the dream.