Picking the right coupler for a new deisel engine

Apparently you purchased the model designed for 2-Rail SCALE track, and THAT model is also designed to accept Kadee O Scale couplers. Some modelers prefer different model Kadee couplers, thus they are NOT included.

It has 3 rail adapters and I've run it on my 3 rail but thanks for the suggestion on the couplers.

 

Any suggestion on which kind of Kaydee?

THIS is what you need.  Go w/ the 740's.

Thank you!

texmaster

Are you using this with other rolling stock that as traditional lionel type coupler? If so you may want the kadee 800 series coupler they hook better to the claw than the 700 series

 

clem

Nope just MTH Premiere cars.

Nice choice.

 

MTH recommends Kadee 806, but you can use the 743 which is a much better looking coupler. You can use a Kadee 805 or 740 if you file about 1/8" off the rear of the box to allow the power truck to clear.

 

The 800 series couplers will couple to hi-rail couplers and you also want to keep in mind that the 6-axle scale-wheeled diesels will not like going through curves sharper than 36" radius (O-72).

Forgot to mention. On the newer MTH Premier cars (last few years), you can mount Kadees on them but it takes some work. You have to remove the hi-rail couplers from the trucks (not trivial with the new design) or replace them with others (Atlas aftermarket trucks or MTH scale-wheeled trucks work). If you use the hi-rail trucks, you'll need to shim the couplers down from the end sill. The cars used to come with shims, but my recent purchases didn't have them. They're about 1/16" thick so you can shim with styrene or the fiber shims that Micro-Mark sells. If the cars are consistent with the locomotives, use 2mmx8mm machine screws (the locomotives come with the screws in the back with the snow plow.)

Once you have the Kadee coupler assembled, grind the back of the box down to clear the truck like Matt said. It should look like this:

 

 

Well looks like I screwed up the order.   The coupler I received looks far closer to an HO coupler than an O.

 

I thought I was buying the right one let alone the right size.   It says its O but I don't see how.

 

The link where I bought it and pics.

 

http://www.kadee.com/htmbord/page740_745.htm

 

 

 

 

Can anyone tell me what I did wrong and which one I should have gotten?

 

No, you didn't "screw up the order". That #740 Kadee coupler is indeed an O Scale coupler. However, you can NOT compare the Kadee O Scale couplers to those massively oversize lobster claw couplers. The Kadee #805 O Scale couplers will actually couple with those lobster claws, however.

Well looks like I screwed up the order.   The coupler I received looks far closer to an HO coupler than an O.

 

I thought I was buying the right one let alone the right size.   It says its O but I don't see how.

 

 

Texmaster

 

If you wanted a locomotive with tinplate couplers compatible with MTH, Lionel, Atlas and Weaver 3 rail couplers you needed to order a locomotive with a product number ending in -1. 

 

The MTH -2 locomotives come with NMRA RP-25 wheel sets intended for 2 rail operation and require the installation of Kadee couplers. 

 

While Kadee 800 series couplers will couple with many tinplate couplers and three rail scalers are using the 700 and 800 series couplers it doesn't sound like it was your intention to go to Kadees.

 

 

 

That is the correct coupler for the engine you bought.

I tried to connect the "lobster" coupler.   (Still love that) with the new coupler but it just slips out.   I did buy 2 so What I'll probably end up doing is using one on the engine and one on the next car.

 

Thanks again everyone.