I am going to go over coupler heights again since I am still seeing so-called "HOW TO VIDEOS" on YouTube that have so much bad information they need to be removed. I am telling you, the amount of bad, misleading information on YouTube is disheartening!
I can't emphasize this enough, check your coupler height with a height gauge, setting your coupler height using the centerline of the couplers, and make the necessary fine-tuning adjustments. These adjustments need to be precise for proper working couplers. "Good enough" doesn't work for trouble-free operation. Checking your coupler height is something that should be, second nature for everyone in the hobby. "Scale" couplers make this even more critical because the coupler pulling face is smaller. See the below details.
STOP BENDING THE TRIP PINS! The trip pins are factory set, and if your coupler is mounted correctly and set to the Kadee coupler height gauge, your trip pin will not need to be bent.
Kadee is working on making "How To Videos" to provide accurate & helpful information that will benefit all modelers.
We have one of our own "How To Videos" out there "How To Shim A Kadee Gearbox To Fix Coupler Droop" on our website in our video gallery https://www.kadee.com/gallery and YouTube the first, and many more to follow. We have a lot more footage shot, we just have to get them edited.
In this, video Frank shows you how to shim the inside of a Kadee Coupler Box to prevent any coupler drooping or sagging. Using some basic hobby tools and supplies, you can easily ensure ideal coupler alignment on your cars and locomotives.
GO TO KADEE.COM → RESOURCES → CATALOGS AND MEDIA → FLYERS AND HANDOUTS
The direct link is https://www.kadee.com/flyers
Here are some important handouts everyone needs to read and have for reference.
Start with
Header "Important Handouts" → "Coupler Primer", "Adapting Delayed-Action Couplers", "Magne-Matic® Uncoupling".
Header "Ho Scale Handouts" → "HO Scale Coupler Chart", "HO Scale Coupler Handout","20-Series", "30-Series" & "HO Scale Height Gauge".
Things you should take away from this months tech tip.
1.) The Coupler Height Gauge for the scale you are modeling is your best friend. (Take the guesswork out of proper coupler mounting. Don't use another car.)
2.) Always measure to the coupler centerline (not to the top or bottom of the coupler). (This provides the most available coupler movement without knuckles slipping apart.)
3.) Trip pins are factory set and, should not need to be bent if the coupler is mounted correctly. (If you need to bend the trip pin, your coupler is probably at the incorrect height.)
4.) When the coupler height gauge is used correctly, whether for mounting uncouplers or mounting and fine-tuning couplers; your couplers should operate trouble-free*.
(*Coupler height gauge or coupler design can't fix bad track or incorrectly set up equipment.)
