Lionel Spacers supplied with new PS1 Grain Cars . . . . what the heck?

Terry DanksOGR Forum Member

I am installing KD couplers on my new PS1 grain cars. Each car comes with a packet that includes a pair of mounting screws and a pair of the spacers shown here lying on top of an inverted car with the truck removed . . .

Here is a spacer installed into the holes . . .

This is all so thoughtful . . . . but . . . here is a KD installed on a car, with no spacer whatsoever . . .

I have no idea what these beautifully designed spacers are supposed to be for. Not Kadees at any rate. Any attempt to use them with KDs results in a grossly out of height coupler.

What are these "mystery spacers" and why is Lionel including them? The self tapping screws are a godsend though. Thanks, Lionel!

Attachments

Hide

Images (3)

7/24/1712:36 PM

❤️ 0

Original Post

Replies sorted oldest to newest

ecd15OGR Forum Member

The Kadee coupler you show looks like it has an offset shank. The spacer is probably for those that use center shank couplers or the older 804 / 805 couplers, which are not available with offset shanks.

Opinion.

7/24/1712:41 PM

❤️ 2

Hot WaterOGR Forum Member

ecd15 posted:
The Kadee coupler you show looks like it has an offset shank. The spacer is probably for those that use center shank couplers or the older 804 / 805 couplers, which are not available with offset shanks.
Opinion.

That's it, alright! The coupler shown in his third photo is off-set downward, which would be the same result as installing the provided shim and using a straight shank 805 or 740 Kadee.

7/24/1712:49 PM

❤️ 1

Terry DanksOGR Forum Member

Thanks, Bob and HW. Mystery solved!

7/24/171:27 PM

❤️ 0