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Kadee® Couplers vs "Clones"
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| Kadee® Couplers have been around since 1947 & are the best Magnetic Couplers on the market. |
Here are some of the things people are saying about Kadee® couplers & cars. on trains.com
| joeyegarner Posted: 30 Oct 2005, 14:19:39 |
As I continue with the hobby I've come to know one thing for sure; There is nothing like a Kadee®coupler!! I have tried Intermoutian, McHenry and a host of others. All you you're doing is setting yourself up for failure, no question in my mind( 7 years experience with knuckel couplers). I just took some of my other rolling stock and Engines up to my train room to run for a little while and it's always the same thing. If there is a problem with uncoupling it's something other than a Kadee. My oppinion is save your self some time and money and do it right the first time. |
| locomotive3 Posted: 30 Oct 2005, 14:26:02 |
KD has been doing it right for over 45 years+. |
| EZamora Posted: 30 Oct 2005, 15:04:06 |
Excellent coupler!!!! Very durable!!! Highly recommend!!! |
| electrolove Posted: 30 Oct 2005, 14:59:36 |
I do not know much, but I do know that Kadee®is the standard, go for it! |
| nbrodar Posted: 30 Oct 2005, 15:18:07 |
Kadee's by far. Everything else I've used pales in comparison. |
| TomDiehl Posted: 30 Oct 2005, 19:50:48 |
The items I've received lately that are made by Walthers have the Bachman EZ Mates in them. They were rather quickly replaced by the Kadee®metal couplers when I tried to pull a 10 car Superliner train up our club's helix and they kept coming uncoupled. Close observation showed that the coupler shanks were actually flexing and allowing the couplers to separate.
Seems every time I've tried other brands of knuckle couplers, I convert them to Kadee's again. You gotta go with what works. |
| Texas Zepher Posted: 30 Oct 2005, 20:04:20 |
In 30 years of using Kadee®couplers, I've only had one failure. The uncoupling wire came loose from the knuckle and wouldn't pull it open over a magnet. Since all magnets have now been removed that wouldn't even be an issue any more.
In comparision, All the plastic knock off's I tried in recent years have had several failures within a very short time. Outright breaking, poor action, stretching and bent knuckles have all been common.
I am however being tempted by the Sargents..... |
| Mustache Posted: 30 Oct 2005, 21:58:58 |
They are the best coupler on the market today. The NO.5®is best al-round,espeically if you don't mind working getting the height right. But I like the many choices,short shank ,long shank,high shank, low shank ,mid mounted shank, then you have the #58. KDs are very strong .In 30 years of using them I've only broken 2, both times on cars I dropped. Plus KDs don't have a memory. |
| tommyr Posted: 31 Oct 2005, 00:58:03 |
If you want to be happy for the rest of your life Kadee®couplers will give you no strife So for my personal gaurantee Make your coupler choice Kadee
Sung to the tune of never make a pretty woman your wife.
EVERYBODY SING!!!!!
Tom
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| CAZEPHYR Posted: 03-13-2008, 7:51 PM |
Kadee's only. Any other coupler is a broken coupler sooner or later. |
| jsoderq Posted: 03-13-2008, 4:58 PM |
I will point out there is a lot of stuff that "regular "couplers won't fit which is why Kadee (and only Kadee) has so many different types. Kadee is the only one to take the coupler business seriously. Also, try to get some technical help from McHenry. |
| pastorbob Posted: 03-13-2008, 2:46 PM |
At last count on the computer data base, around 1710 freight cars on my Santa Fe, on the railroad, on storage tracks, on shelves, all have Kadee wouldn't touch anything else. Some of the cars are well over 20 years old, the Kadees still run as they did from day one Bob |
| jeffrey Posted:03-13-2008, 1:05 PM |
I use McHenry couplers to make a pile of scrap couplers. There's no beating Kadee's for endurance and pulling. On a pull test the Kadee did eventually fail but it failed at a point way beyond what the meter could measure (the meter topped out at 11+ pounds). If you want a scale size coupler, Kadee has that also. The #58 scale size coupler. http://www.kadee.com/htmbord/page58.htm |
| Mr. SP Posted: 03-13-2008, 1:18 PM |
Kadee is the ONLY coupler to use. The Maybee Mates are just junk. The plastic is slippery and soft and just dosen't hold up. Our club has outlawed the imposters and the horney-hooks too.
Be sure to install the Kadee's with the height gauge. Allow for maintenance or repair with your instalation too. Never know when a derailment or other mishap might break a coupler. I use Kadee trucks on my rolling stock where Kadee makes a correct truck. |
| cwclark Posted: 03-13-2008, 1:10 PM |
There are a lot of things in this hobby that might work and then again might not. KADEE couplers are one of those things that work and are just plain reliable. i'd go with the KADEE coupler anyday over the Mchenry and others....chuck |
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Kadee® HO Couplers are Metal &/or Plastic.
Kadee® "ALL Metal" Couplers are our Strongest & Most Popular, all come with Insulated Draft Gear Box (except #4 has a metal Draft Gear Box) & "ALL Metal" Knuckle & Centering Springs. Are manufactured & assembled in the U.S.A. (Metal Couplers include #3 Whisker®, #4, NO.5®, #7, #8, #9 #115 Whisker®, 40-Series, #58 "Scale", #78 "Scale" Whisker®, #118 "Shelf" Whisker®, #119 "Shelf" Whisker®, 140-Series Whisker®, 150-Series "Scale" Whisker®, #2100 "Scale" Couplers)
Kadee® "Plastic" Couplers have "Metal" Knuckles and "Plastic" Shanks, all come with Insulated Draft Gear Box & "ALL Metal" Knuckle & Centering Springs. Are manufactured & assembled in the U.S.A.
(Plastic Couplers include #17, #18,#19, #20 NEM 362, 20-Series, 30-Series Couplers)
"Clone" Couplers are "All Plastic" with "ALL Plastic" Knuckle & Centering Springs, some have "Metal" Knuckle Springs or Centering Springs they may or may not come with Draft Gear Box. Are made Overseas, and imported into the States.
Here are a couple simple tests that any one can perform to see for yourself "you get what you pay for".
Pull Test Kadee's® Results-Kadee® Couplers held from 10-19 lbs depending on Coupler tested. "Clone" Coupler held 1-5 lbs. Kadee® Couplers held the weight and then fully functioned & looked the same as a new coupler. "Clone" Coupler holding only a portion of the weight distorted the plastic into a unusable shape and retained distorted shape.
Park Test Kadee's® Results-Kadee® Couplers Knuckle & Centering Spring performance was unaffected by testing. "Clone" Coupler Knuckle &/or Centering Spring spring took set, had problems centering or wouldn't center after testing.
Run Test Kadee's® Results-Kadee® Couplers performed flawlessly. "Clone" Coupler randomly dropped cars.
Installation Test Kadee's® Results-Kadee® Couplers fit gear boxes better & took less effort to set up at correct NMRA mounting height . "Clone" Coupler fit gear boxes&/or post poorly & took much more to set up at correct NMRA mounting height & coupler drooped.
Any of the tests will show the true Quality and Performance of Kadee® Couplers vs "Clone" Couplers. |
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| Kadee® Couplers |
"Knockoff" / "Clone"
Knuckle Couplers |
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Kadee® #58
"Scale" Metal Couplers
12.3 lbs for over 24 hours. |
Kadee® #28
Plastic Couplers
12.3 lbs for over 24 hours. |
"Knockoff"
Knuckle Couplers
3.0 lbs for 1-2 seconds. |
"Knockoff"
Knuckle Couplers
3.0 lbs for 1-2 seconds.
Note: The knuckle spring that
popped out at less then 2 lbs |
| Note: No noticeable distortion or loss of function after test. |
Note: Shanks stretched & the knuckles were permanently
distorted after only a few seconds of weight hampering function. |
All Kadee® Couplers & Cars are Manufactured and Assembled entirely in the U.S.A.
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WARNING: CHOKING HAZARD - Small Parts - Not for children under 14 years.