Kadee Coupler Coversion Questions

[Doughless]

Wheels may be taller or shorter than the wheels on other cars. 

There could be spacers...washers...installed where the trucks screw into the body, raising the overall height of a car.

Of course, the car heights could be manufacturered at different (broader) height tolerances.

Coupler box cover could be loose, causing the couplers to droop too low.

If differences are not repairable, Kadee makes overshank and undershank couplers to help keep the couplers of different cars aligned.

 Edit:  I see that LastSpikeMike said pretty much the same thing.

Also, if the couplers have the Kadee box spring, that shiny thing, try flipping from top to bottom or visa versa, to act as a shim or help stablize the coupler if its drooping.

I have seen all of these problems.

[SeeYou190]

FRRYKid

Has anybody run into a situation where the Kadee recommended coupler for a piece of rolling stock doesn't work even if it works with the height gauge? A few examples:

I do not quite understand this.

Are you saying two pieces of equipment both line up with the Kadee height gauge, but when coupled together, the couplers are not vertically in alignment?

If this is the case, I have an idea that has worked for me. Please verify.

-Kevin

[Water Level Route]

Well FRRYKid, I've read your post a couple times and not entirely sure I follow you.  Are you using the kadee height gauge like this one?

Assuming yes, all locomotive/rolling stock couplers shouldn't just mate up to it, but should line up almost exactly.  Like this:

Otherwise, maybe picture or two would help us help you to troubleshoot.

[FRRYKid]

Got what seems like a simple one the my Forum friends this time. Has anybody run into a situation where the Kadee recommended coupler for a piece of rolling stock doesn't work even if it works with the height gauge? A few examples:

1. I have four AHM U25Cs that I have converted (or fixed the conversion) to 140 series couplers. For the rear, the recommendation amounts to a 148 in a 252 box. When I tried to mate that to my coal cars which are basically stock Roundhouse thrall gons with #5s, the engine coupler was nearly a full coupler low. The Roundhouse cars also mate perfectly with an ExactRail hopper car. A 147 solved that problem as those cars are the only thing the U boat will be pulling but ...
2. Second, I have three Walthers GSC flats that currently have either #5s or 148s (I don't remember exactly which.) as recommendationed. I tried to mate them to an Athearn BB SD45 again with 147s as recommended. Same problem as above (mate with height gauge but not with each other as the flats are low). But the flats mate up perfectly with some RTR Athearn drop end gons.

I am a bit stumped as to what the problem is. As I have engines from many different manufacturers, it's a bit annoying when I can't guarantee any car will mate with any engine. As usual, any suggestions ideas would be would welcomed.