COUPLERS

[willy6]

i use KADEE'S #58, just curious what everyone uses and why.

[Anonymous]

I use link and pin, as this knuckle stuff wasn't around in 1865.

[Hawks05]

i use the Kadee stuff. well the boxcars i got and caboose have kadee couplers but my locomotive doesn't so i'm going to get some extras this weekend.

[Anonymous]

I like my KD # 58's. Everything else is just a knock-off.

[Anonymous]

Kadee only here....all the others are pretty much crap...i like to run long NMRA weighted cars on my home layout and the club layout...and both have some hefty grades. Needless to say when experimenting with the plastic couplers...they have a tendancy to break apart.

[Jetrock]

I generally use Kadees, most often the old reliable #5, where I can. I picked up a box of McHenry couplers this weekend because they were cheap (a box of 25 pairs for $5) and they look fine, but I swapped out the horn-hooks on a "bobber" caboose for two of the McHenry's, and while moving it from the hobby table to the layout I dropped the caboose (horrors!) about three feet, and both the McHenry couplers snapped off instantly. While I don't recommend dropping one's rolling stock at any time, it never would have happened with Kadees. I'll stick with them for my more expensive and prized rolling stock, and the $2 train show specials that come in the door with horn-hooks can get the McHenry's. They do seem to work fine on the layout--I uncouple manually so I don't need metal...but I do appreciate the strength!

[Anonymous]

The brothers Keith and Dale, short form, KADEE

[Hawks05]

how much do you think like a box of 20 pairs would cost. the Kadee couplers i'm talking about. i'm going to a hobby shop this week and i saw in the Terminal Hobby catalog that they had a box 20 pairs for like $18.95 or something.

[Anonymous]

OTHER - Micro-Trains which i guess really were KD at one time

[nfmisso]

Whatever knuckle coupler comes on the model, if it breaks, the model gets Kadee. If it doesn't have knuckle couplers to start, Kadee.

[tomwatkins]

Kadees, mostly #5's. I haven't switched to #58's yet because they aren'y available in bulk packs.

Tom Watkins

[sparkingbolt]

I seem to be in good company, I use Kadee only. But I will always give away the other brands to people who have horn hooks, It's an easy and cheap way to intro them to knuckle couplers.
I am absolutely stickler for reliable "Delayed Uncoupling" Kadees don't dissappoint.
Dan In Bend

[IRONROOSTER]

I have used Kadees in three scales, HO, O, and now S. I have always found them to work well.
Enjoy
Paul

[Anonymous]

If I were to use two different manufacturer's couplers would they connect or not fit?

[Jetrock]

Well, that depends--Kadees generally connect well with McHenry and other brands that generally look like Kadees (that is, ones that resemble real-life Janney couplers.) Supposedly some combinations don't work too well, but generally anything that looks like a Kadee will hook up with a Kadee.

Horn-hook couplers don't connect to Kadees. although when I was a kid and had no funds I'd cut the little horns off of horn-hook couplers so they'd sort-of connect with a Kadee (I don't mind manual uncoupling anyhow.)

I'm a little out of the loop on N scale but one of the things that really turned me off of N scale were those awfu-looking rectangular couplers.

[Anonymous]

In HO it is KD #5 in N scale it MT 1015 loco and 1030 cars then weighted other wise it doesnt TOUCH the rails

Regards

Larry

[Anonymous]

KD and KD only.
Slack action in a 100 car train can be deadly to plastic, so why bother?

[BRAKIE]

I will stick with the #5s..I do not like the looks of the 58.

[willy6]

FYI..............i contacted KADEE, and they said there is no plan for bulk packs of #58's in the near future.

[deevs]

I use Mc Henry

[Anonymous]

Right now I am still using Horn Hooks that come on my rolling stock [:0]

However I intend to upgrade everything to Kadee #5's ASAP. But first My money has to go towards my layout supplies for my First real 4x8 and getting my fleet to a decent running size of a few 10 car trains or so.

I also plan to upgrade to better trucks as well in the process, Possibly Kadee Roller Bearing trucks.

[detting]

I use Kadees as a Rule. But I will use McHenrys KS when the installation would be significantly easier than performing surgery to use a Kadee. The knuckle spring is the key to smooth coupling operations.

I made the mistake of using the non-knuckle spring couplers and have problems with the couplers stuck open and letting go in a train. I am still in the process of correcting this situation.

Later...

[Anonymous]

the "normal" Kadde couplers work great for me, but I prefer the look of the kadee scale couplers.

[Anonymous]

I only know what kadees are what are the others?!?!?!?!?

[Anonymous]

I used to be a Mantua hook and loop fan, got mad when I could no longer get them. switched to KADEE and have been happy ever since. I tried a few McHenry's but whenever i had a break in a train there was allways a McHenry involved, so cheap isn't allways best, I won't use anything but KADEE's.

[ericboone]

I'm thinking about using Sergent Engineering's couplers. They look and operate just like the real thing. The only difference is you use a magnet to lift the "pin" instead of a lever. Has anyone else used them?
www.sergentengineering.com

[fiatfan]

I run short 10-12 car trains so I don't need the added strength of the metal couplers. However, the main reason I don't use the KD is that I've always had a problem installing the spring correctly. I can never seeme to get it in place without bending the spring. I have been very satisfied with the delayed action and have no problems with the reduced strength of the palstic. Overall, I am very happy with the McHenry couplers.

Tom

[CP5415]

If knuckle couplers come on the car/locomotive, I'll use them until it breaks.
When they break & they will, I then switch over to KD's

Gordon

[Noah Hofrichter]

I use kadees where possible, and i'm trying to figure out how to change some horn hook cars in to Kadees. I use some (very few but some) Bachmann EZ mates.

Noah

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by willy6

i use KADEE'S #58, just curious what everyone uses and why.

Same here. I use them because Kadee are the best couplers you can buy, and the #58s are closer to scale.