|
|
 Posted - May 06 2022 : 06:13:06 AM
|
Hello there !
Can I replace Tyco plastic coupler by the famous Kadee coupler ? Is it easy to do ? Thanks.
|
Country:  France ~
Posts: 24 ~
Member Since: April 30 2022 ~
Last Visit: May 09 2022
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
|
 Posted - May 06 2022 : 10:48:34 AM
|
The most frequent adjustment I see is simply sliding in a no. 5 with its bronze spring under the shaft, and adjusting the pin height so it doesn't pick at frogs.
I believe there is also a specific coupler Kadee makes for converting Tyco cars, you would have to research their website.
Other people go with affixing a draft gear box directly to the body.
Myself, Kadee's are another "best practice" thing that did not
turn out to be an enjoyable sideline, for me. I found that maintaining a host of Kadee's to be a whole new enterprise.
I prefer to run trains, not be constantly repairing them.
Edited by - Chops124 on May 06 2022 10:49:34 AM
|
Country:  USA ~
Posts: 11501 ~
Member Since: December 09 2013 ~
Last Visit: April 04 2025
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
|
Posted - May 06 2022 : 11:40:46 AM
|
quote:| I prefer to run trains, not be constantly repairing them. Originally posted by Chops124Â -Â May 06 2022Â :Â 10:48:34 AM |
Me too !
|
|
Country: France ~
Posts: 24 ~
Member Since: April 30 2022 ~
Last Visit: May 09 2022
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
|
Posted - May 06 2022 : 12:43:59 PM
|
I'll go along with Chops, however I found an easier way for me:
Take a short shank whisker Kadee coupler, glue the little bushing in place with super glue. On the truck, remove the tiny little tabs at the end of the Talco mount. When glue is dry lightly file the opening and pop in over the coupler tab in the truck. Done.
The Tyco "keeper", a Kadee with bushing superglued in and rat tail file to widen the opening in the bushing.
I gave up using the keeper- that's just a lot of fiddling to keep that from flying away from the work bench.
The top view
In general you need to use an underset shank to get the correct height.
By rule, when I can body mount the Kadee I do that. On triple tankers there is nowhere to do that so this has been the default.
Edited by - el rojo grande on May 07 2022 1:32:48 PM
|
|
Country: USA ~
Posts: 308 ~
Member Since: October 26 2015 ~
Last Visit: April 07 2025
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
|
Posted - May 07 2022 : 7:31:23 PM
|
I've found the whisker couplers like the 148 to be much easier to use than the old standard #5s. The key to it all is using the coupler height guage to adjust the height, and carefully bending the trip pins so they don't snag anything like switch frogs.
I've also found the newer "ready to roll" cars by Athearn, Bachmann, Walthers and others are usually spot on with regards to coupler height. With what you spend on couplers and wheelsets upgrading the older cars, the new ones aren't that much more expensive. Bachnann in particular has a section on their website called "warehouse finds" where you can get some good deals on freight cars, some as low as $10.
|
|
Country: USA ~
Posts: 584 ~
Member Since: December 22 2013 ~
Last Visit: April 29 2025
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
|
Posted - May 08 2022 : 12:55:44 AM
|
I don’t know if it’s still available, but Kadee did make an adapter that snaps into the talgo coupler pocket.
1336
Glenn
I was thinking of the immortal words of Socrates, who said, "... I drank what?"
|
|
Country: USA ~
Posts: 1561 ~
Member Since: December 13 2008 ~
Last Visit: April 29 2025
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
|
Posted - May 08 2022 : 02:10:39 AM
|
| Thanks a lot for all your very interesting and very helpful answers.
|
|
Country: France ~
Posts: 24 ~
Member Since: April 30 2022 ~
Last Visit: May 09 2022
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
Bamos
Big Six
Status:
offline
| |
Posted - May 08 2022 : 04:36:51 AM
|
Hello Old Bandit. I just finished doing a car last night and Tyco needs number 27 medium underset Kadee's for the talgo trucks.
 
Bill
|
|
Country: USA ~
Posts: 202 ~
Member Since: December 24 2017 ~
Last Visit: April 20 2025
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
|
Posted - May 08 2022 : 08:23:50 AM
|
| Problem solved. Thanks a lot !
|
|
Country: France ~
Posts: 24 ~
Member Since: April 30 2022 ~
Last Visit: May 09 2022
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
Home
Forums
Events Calendar
Forum Admins & Mods
Register
