Comments on: Replacing Old Couplers With Kadee Lookalikes

By: Ralph Cunningham

Ralph Cunningham — Mon, 19 Nov 2018 18:57:08 +0000

I’ve been in the hobby for some 60 years now and when I get a car with the plastic knock offs I trash them and replace with Kadees. There is no replacement for them.

By: Gerry

Gerry — Fri, 16 Nov 2018 01:11:08 +0000

I you want a Ferrari buy a Ferrari, don’t go and buy a Volkswagen that’s been made to look like a Ferrari; you always, always get what you pay for.

By: Angel

Angel — Fri, 16 Nov 2018 01:07:36 +0000

Kadee all the way my friend! Quality over quantity on my railroad any day. Kadee is ALL I use on my model railroad and never had an issue.

By: John Byers

John Byers — Fri, 16 Nov 2018 01:06:28 +0000

I don’t believe the NMRA would ever make a trademarked brand a standard. Their standards are designed so any manufacturer may freely use them to ensure compatibility and proper operation. When they attempted to make a standard design for HO 60 some years ago so that all the train sets would work with each other, and they couldn’t violate anybody’s patents, the committee came up with the X2F horn hook design. This was often called the NMRA coupler even though the NMRA voted against it. Most train sets started using it, which did allow HO train sets to be compatible. Since most model railroaders start by getting a train set in their youth, this helped grow the hobby in that respect. Before the X2F horn hook monstrosity was designed there were numerous non compatible but good functioning couplers on the market. I believe the great John Allen used Baker couplers. There were also Mantua, Devore, and others, none would work with anybody else’s.

By: Timothy Purdy

Timothy Purdy — Fri, 16 Nov 2018 01:04:54 +0000

I prefer Kadee’s myself I think the knock off’s you are referring are called McHenrey couplers. They are made of plastic and like any plastic coupler they intend to give way and cause more uncoupling than you can handle. Kadee’s may cost a little more but I think the cost will be worth the headache latter on.

By: Greg Wible

Greg Wible — Fri, 16 Nov 2018 01:03:53 +0000

I find that the Bachmann couplers tend to move vertically somewhat. So if your track differs in elevation, you could have uncoupling problems. I find in those cases that the Kadee couplers do not flex near as much and stay coupled. But in most cases I find no problem with the cheaper couplers.

By: phil johnson

phil johnson — Thu, 15 Nov 2018 02:34:09 +0000

If you are running long trains, heavy cars and you are using KD clones, sooner or later you’ll be embarrassed. I tried them when first out on market 30 yrs. ago and after 3 yrs. went back to KD’s. The plastics under load will raise up and uncouple. Their shanks flex. KD’s or Walthers proto are the only ones I use. If it is plastic I may ACC the knuckle and use as a dummy

By: Ernie Vahlbruch

Ernie Vahlbruch — Thu, 15 Nov 2018 02:29:26 +0000

In reply to Paul S. Currently in the same mode as you describe. Figured that if I buy good used rolling stock and give it the wheels, Kadees and weight ungrades, I'm still coming out ahead and I can look forward to a long time between repairs etc.

By: Laurent Daudelin

Laurent Daudelin — Thu, 15 Nov 2018 02:10:11 +0000

Like others said, don’t bother with any other brand of couplers but Kadee. They’re simply the best and the extra cost is not with it.

By: Kevin

Kevin — Thu, 15 Nov 2018 01:44:35 +0000

Use the cheaper Bachmann ez knuckle couplers you can get them for a fraction of the price of Kayde’s and they work really well I dont use anything else myself

By: Mark

Mark — Thu, 15 Nov 2018 01:44:24 +0000

I went MTL/Kadee in 1977. Why they hadn’t been a standard of the NMRA by 1982, still puzzles me to this day.

By: Paul S

Paul S — Thu, 15 Nov 2018 01:40:44 +0000

I recently had they same problem, keep multiple types of couplers or replace with Kadee. I made the decision to replace and am glad I did. While I was at it I replaced all plastic wheel sets with metal ones and where I could added extra weight. My total upgrade was not cheap. But I’ve been rewarded with better running rolling stock.