Atlas and Kadee coupler issue

Ray,

 

Are you referring to the older "original" Atlas couplers, or the newer current design Atlas couplers? If the older ones, in my opinion, you might as well forget about them EVER working properly. I eventually went through virtually all ov my Atlas freight cars and took those earlier couplers off and threw them in the trash (I replaced them all with Kadee #805s).

 

I have no experience with the current "newer design" Atlas couplers.

The latest AtlasO scale knuckle coupler is essentially a Kadee 805 clone head on an AtlasO shank.  The couplers don't even couple well with one another as Atlas knuckle and shank springs were poorly chosen - too stiff.  I've found that replacing the springs with Kadee ones help.

 

Ed Rappe

I've seen and experienced Atlas coupler failure due to zinc rot but I haven't experienced problems coupling to Kadees...yet. I do know that the older Atlas couplers had several issues -- stiffness of the centering spring, having to slam them together that prevented coupling, etc. So far, they've coupled to both the 800 and 740 series Kadees just fine, subject to having to hit them harder.

 

I also experienced a problem of the long-shank couplers flexing with my 89-foot piggyback flats. This happened under heavier loads. I replaced them with Kadee 746 long-shank couplers which are stiffer than the Atlas plastic shanks.

 

I've been looking at replacing Atlas couplers with Kadees on other rolling stock and on conversions

Best solution? Get rid of the Atlas coupler

Well it seems unanimous. Replace with Kadee. Thanks for the info.

 

Ray Marion

Ray are you free next week on Monday the 24th? If your bored would you be interested in coming over and showing me how to Kadee up 4 weaver boxcars?

Eric

 

   email sent . let me know.

 

Ray Marion