Comments: Kadee Type "E" Coupler

They seem to work very well for me. I now have about a dozen freight cars equipped with the #740 (I think that is the number), and have had no issues coupling with all the #805 coupler equipped cars. Plus, they do look a LOT better than the #805s.

Thanks HW!  That's what I wanted to know and was hoping to hear as I think they look a little nicer too. 

Butch

They couple up to the 805's with no issues.

If you are trying to mate them with the 3 rail couplers (claws), there is an issue. The knuckle doesn't open up enough to get a tight fit with the claw like the 805 does. A little work with a file will solve this, sometimes just the kadee, and sometimes the claw needs a little clean up too.

If you plan on a switching operation where you will be uncoupling cars with some sort of Kadee magnet (not your hands or a tool), there does tend to be a bit of an issue with the new 700 series couplers. Making sure the trip pin is bent at the correct height is an absolute must. Even then, they will have some problems opening far enough to get the "delayed action" to work properly when you want to shove the cars you just uncoupled from. The 805 has much more movement in the actual knuckle itself, making hands free switching realitively trouble free. I haven't figure out how to get the same from the 700 series .....yet!

So if you're not concerned about switching or coupling to three rail couplers.... 700's all the way.

Thanks L.O.S.  I'm strictly 2R and any uncoupling would be done with a stir stick or uncoupling tool.  I'll be cutting off the trip pins and adding aftermarket air hoses. I'm going for fidelity to the prototype, good operation and strength.  Sounds like the type "E"'s are just want the doctor ordered without breaking the budget. 

Butch

No problem Butch, I figured you were 2R, I just put it out there as info for othesr who may do a search in the future. I know the question has come up before about mating with 3 rail couplers. Cutting the pin off and adding air hoses will look great. The new 700 series do look so much more realistic, they are worth the 4-$5 per car for sure.   

I am using them and it works perfect and looks terrific!

Andre.

 Good here for me too, in several scales. I liked the look and tried them. Now I want to use only them. Maybe they'll make up bulk pkgs someday??

Kadee will indeed offer "bulk packages" of their couplers. You might call them and see what the current "minimum purchase" is. Last we checked some years ago I think it was something like 250 pair, minimum.

I put the #746 extended shank couplers on my Atlas bulkhead flats, and they look great.   Picked up several pairs of the #840s to put on my Overland diesels.   Very nice couplers!

They work very well. They couple to the 800-series Kadees, Weaver, and Atlas couplers (the new ones) fine. The old Atlas couplers didn't couple well with anything because they were so stiff. They'd look just like the real thing at first glance but for the trip pin. Yes, those are scale wheels, fixed pilots and 2-rail track, but I run them on 3-rail track (for the most part.)

I was hoping for a smaller number!

Maybe they'll make up bulk pkgs someday?? 

I agree with Matt. Doing a google search I found a company called "Discount Kadee Couplers" out of Idaho that has the same minimum order of 25. Savings was about 30+% off of list depending on how many you purchased. The carry Kadee couplers for all gauges. The more you buy the larger the discount. Anyone familiar with this company?

Matt your loco looks outstanding. Nice weathering job and the photo looks great!

Butch 

Kadee and protocraft at glance.

They are not compatible in operation, but very close one each other in appearance.

Andre.

How'd you do that install? The Atlas couplers are pretty good, but the Kadees would be better.

Matt,

thank you for your nice comment.

The coupler swing into the coupler pocket the same as the kadee if you want, but the issue is on "S" curves; then you need a good swing between the couples(see photo) and at this point the PC are to scale so they don't swing a lot.

the picture show like the PC couplers are straight but really swing a little bit more.

Andre.

AG

Those PC couplers are absolutely beautiful but I need to reserve them for very special cars due to cost.

Butch

Yes!

I bought them because are really a nice piece, very well done and worth any penny when you buy a pair or two, but for more than 20 couplers is not so easy...

AG.

The first thought I had when I looked at the ProtoCraft couplers on their website was that they'd look great on locomotives since MTH and Atlas have gone through the trouble of putting lift bars on the pilots. The catch is that I'd need transition cars to transition from ProtoCraft to Kadees in addition to the ones I use to transition from Kadees to lobster claws. I think I'll pick up a few to tinker around with.

Kedee work fine with any Lionel type coupler (lobster ) as far as I know.

So IMO you do not need a conversion car.

Andre.

AG,

You are generally correct. However, I have found some manufacturers of lobster claws that will NOT couple with Kadee #805 couplers, thus occasionally a "transition car" is advisable.

I think the better solution is swap to kadee!!!

thank for the advice.

Andre.

I fully agree! That is what I have done, as a 3-Rail SCALE modeler, but occasionally a guest comes over who wants to operate THEIR locomotive (steam of course). Depending on the manufacturer, it couples up fine to all my Kadee equipped stuff. When they don't, out comes the transition car from the back room.

I use Monarch, Proto-Craft, Kadee, various plastic dummy couplers, and Scale-Craft.  The Kadees seem to couple to all of them.  I don't do switching moves, so never tried uncoupling, but if all you want to do is run a train, all seem compatible.

I like switching, so the coupler performance is important.

Bob do you recognize this coupler?

is it made by all nation?

thank you

Andre.