HO Coupler Reference Charts

Shank Style

Whisker® Shanks are all metal and feature the patented Whisker® centering system built into the shank. With a Whisker® shank there's no fiddling with centering springs. Just drop it into the coupler pocket and it works. The Whisker® shank is the simplest and most reliable design we've ever created.

Standard Shanks feature the same time-tested design that made Kadee® couplers famous. These shanks are made out of metal or strong insulated plastic to prevent electrical crossover between the rails and your rolling stock. Available in a variety of standard and specialty gearboxes.

NEM-362 Shanks are plastic shanks designed to work with NEM coupler pockets commonly found on European model railroads. These shanks conform to MOROP standards for complete compatibility with European models.

Split Shanks are plastic shanks designed for light duty use on old time equipment. While not a commonly used shank, this design allows use of Kadee® couplers on very old model railroad equipment.

Whisker® Shank

Standard Shank

NEM-362 Shank

Split Shank

Shank Offset

Underset Shanks effectively move the coupler head up about 0.050" from the centerline of the shank. This allows for proper alignment of couplers when used with different rolling stock or alignment needs.

Centerset Shanks keep the coupler aligned with the centerline of the shank. This is the most commonly used offset, and the best place to start when fitting new couplers to rolling stock.

Overset Shanks effectively move the coupler head down 0.050" from the centerline of the shank. This design can help align couplers among different rolling stock.

Underset Shank

Centerset Shank

Overset Shank

Shank Length

Short Length Shanks have a 1/4" (0.250") length measured from the center of the mounting hole to the rear face of the coupler head for Whisker® and Standard shanks. Short Length NEM-362 shanks measure 9/32" (7.11mm) from the shank shoulder to the front face of the coupler.

Medium Length Shanks have a 19/64" (0.297") length measured from the center of the mounting hole to the rear face of the coupler head for Whisker® and Standard shanks. Medium Length NEM-362 shanks measure 11/32" (8.63mm) from the shank shoulder to the front face of the coupler.

Long Length Shanks have a 25/64" (0.390") length measured from the center of the mounting hole to the rear face of the coupler head for Whisker® and Standard shanks. Long Length NEM-362 shanks measure 27/64" (10.61mm) fron the shank shoulder to the front face of the coupler.

Extra Long Length Shanks are only available in NEM-362 shanks and measure 29/34" (11.68mm) from the shank shoulder to the front face of the coupler.

 

Short Length Shank

Medium Length Shank

Long Length Shank

X-Long Length Shank

Standard
And
Whisker®
Shanks

 

NEM-362
Shanks

Head Styles

Standard Heads are slightly over scale but are great for use on tracks that might have bumps and uneven surfaces. Compatible with all Kadee® head types.

Scale Heads are close to actual scale size and are perfect to get that prototypical look. Track should be flat and even since there is less forgiveness in coupler movement up and down. Compatible with all Kadee® head types.

SF Shelf Heads are manufactured to actual scale. These heads give you the most accurate prototypical look but the track must be flat and even to avoid coupler unseating. Compatible with all Kadee® head types.

SE Shelf Heads are manufactured to actual scale. These heads give you the most accurate prototypical look but the track must be flat and even to avoid coupler unseating. Compatible with all Kadee® head types.

3/4 Heads have an extended trip pin mounted on a narrow gauge coupler to use with light duty old time equipment.

Standard Head

Scale Head

SF Shelf Head

SE Shelf Head

3/4 Head

Gearbox Mounting Screw Sizes

2-56 Screws

0-48 Screws
0-80 Screws

All HO Gearboxes using center hole
(except #9, #711, and #712 Gearboxes)

#9, #711, and #712 Gearboxes

HO Gearboxes using side or rear mounting holes

HO Scale Coupler Chart

Use the chart below to find your perfect coupler based on shank, head, scale, and more.

The #148 Whisker® coupler is equivilent to the No. 5®, but features the improved Whisker® centering system.

Newer HO models with Bachmann® EZ-Mate®, Athearn® McHenry, Accumate®, Walther® Proto Max®, or other knuckle couplers most often use our #148 Whisker® coupler as a direct replacement

Always check for proper coupler height using our #206 Insulated Coupler Height Gauge.

Metal
Knuckle

Plastic
Shank

Standard
Head

Metal
Knuckle

Metal
Shank

Standard
Head

Metal
Knuckle

Metal
Shank

Scale
Head

Metal
Knuckle

Metal
Shank

SF Shelf
Head

Metal
Knuckle

Metal
Shank

SE Shelf
Head

Metal
Knuckle

Metal
Shank

SBE Shelf
Head

Plastic
Knuckle

Plastic
Shank

3/4
Head

Short Shank

Underset
Shank

Std.
Shank

24


#24 Coupler with #234 Gearbox

34


#34 Coupler with #233 Gearbox

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Whisker
Shank

 

 

144


#144 Coupler with #242 Gearbox

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Centerset
Shank

Std.
Shank

23


#23 Coupler with #234 Gearbox

33


#33 Coupler with #233 Gearbox

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Whisker
Shank

 

 

143


#143 Coupler with #242 Gearbox

 

 

 

153


#153 Coupler with #242 Gearbox

 

 

 

 

 

Overset
Shank

Std.
Shank

25


#25 Coupler with #234 Gearbox

35


#35 Coupler with #233 Gearbox

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Whisker
Shank

 

 

145


#145 Coupler with #242 Gearbox

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NEM
Shank

NEM
Shank

17


#17 NEM-362 Coupler

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Medium Shank

Underset
Shank

Std.
Shank

27


#27 Coupler with #232 Gearbox

37


#37 Coupler with #233 Gearbox

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Whisker
Shank

 

 

147


#147 Coupler with #242 Gearbox

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Centerset
Shank

Std.
Shank

28


#28 Coupler with #232 Gearbox

38


#38 Coupler with #233 Gearbox

5


#5 Coupler with #232 Gearbox

9


#5 Coupler with #9 Gearbox

 

 

58


#58 Coupler with #232 Gearbox

2100


Coupler with #PS-1 Gearbox

 

 

 

 

Whisker
Shank

 

 

148


#148 Coupler with #242 Gearbox

451


#148 Coupler with #451 Gearbox

3


Assembled #148 Coupler in #242 Gearbox

115


#148 Coupler in Log Car Gearbox

158


#158 Coupler with #242 Gearbox

178


#158 Coupler with #178 Scale Gearbox

118


#118 Coupler with #242 Gearbox

119


#119 Coupler with #242 Gearbox

120


#120 Coupler with #242 Gearbox

 

Overset
Shank

Std.
Shank

22


#22 Coupler with #232 Gearbox

32


#32 Coupler with #233 Gearbox

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Whisker
Shank

 

 

142


#142 Coupler with #242 Gearbox

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NEM
Shank

NEM
Shank

18


#18 NEM-362 Coupler

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long Shank

Underset
Shank

Std.
Shank

21


#21 Coupler with #232 Gearbox

31


#31 Coupler with #233 Gearbox

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Whisker
Shank

 

 

141


#141 Coupler with #242 Gearbox

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Centerset
Shank

Std.
Shank

26


#26 Coupler with #232 Gearbox

36


#36 Coupler with #233 Gearbox

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Whisker
Shank

 

 

146


#146 Coupler with #242 Gearbox

 

 

 

156


#156 Coupler with #242 Gearbox

 

 

 

 

 

Overset
Shank

Std.
Shank

29


#29 Coupler with #232 Gearbox

39


#39 Coupler with #233 Gearbox

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Whisker
Shank

 

 

149


#149 Coupler with #242 Gearbox

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NEM
Shank

NEM
Shank

19


#19 NEM-362 Coupler

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

X - Long Shank

Underset
Shank

Std.
Shank

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Whisker
Shank

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Centerset
Shank

Std.
Shank

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Whisker
Shank

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overset
Shank

Std.
Shank

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Whisker
Shank

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NEM
Shank

NEM
Shank

20


#20 NEM-362 Coupler

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Split
Shank

Split
Shank

Split
Shank

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

711
712


3/4 Old Time head coupler in gearbox