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I wanted to change my couplers to Kadees, so I recently purchased a 10 pair pack to try and they are great on my stock, particularly on tight radii. However I heard that metal couplers could pose electrical issues when mounted on engines with metal gear boxes such as my Athearn switcher units. I have Athearn SW7cow&calf, S12, SW1500 and Atlas S-2. What problems could metal couplers cause, and if so what is the best quality coupler solution for these?
Posts: 4 | From: Mt. Holly Springs | Registered: May 2003
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The solution to your problem is quite simple. You have heard right that Kadee metal shafts will cause problems with Atheanr Locomtives when ran in Nose to tail fashion as Athearn uses the frame as one side of the electical circut. When running two locomotives back to back with a metal coupler such as the #5, a short will occure. The solution is to use a coupler out of Kadee's #20 or #30 Series cuplers (which ever fits the situation best) These couplers use plastic shanks and insulate the frame from a cross coupler short.
Posts: 315 | From: Lander,WY USA | Registered: Jan 2002
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If you are going to run long trains, the plastic shanks may break under load. If you run the couplers in the Kaddee boxes, the plastic boxes will insulate the couplers from the frame. You will probably need to file the bottom of the coupler mounts to raise the couplers up to standard height. The other thing you can do is to remove the coupler mounts from the frame and mount them directly to the plastic body.
Posts: 70 | From: Lakewood, California, U.S.A. | Registered: Mar 2003
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