How to use Kadee Couplings on UK rolling stock
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 1 ต.ค. 2024
- Tension Lock couplings are standard on OO gauge rolling stock. However, differences in type mean they don't often work together well, and remote uncoupling is tricky without the 'Hand of God'. In this video I fit Kadee couplings to my British Rolling Stock - see how I get on.
Kade couplings have been around for many years, being developed in the US for HO gauge models. They work by magnets in the track deflecting the metal 'tail' to open the knuckle. They bear a passing resemblance to the buckeye coupler and pipework used on most modern stock, so have a better appearance than the clunky tension lock too.
![[UNCUT] “บอสณวัฒน์” ลากไส้!! ใครหนุนหลัง "แม่ตั๊ก ป๋าเบียร์" I คนดังนั่งเคลียร์ I 30 ก.ย. 67](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/QlD7mU2KKRk/mqdefault.jpg)
As an American im glad you bought an American product, Thank you, And, Hello from the U.S.A.
kadees work very well when set up correctly with some exceptions. On short wheelbase UK stock, the kadee magnet is too long and it is almost impossible to stop a train anywhere near the magnet without it activating a coupling and disconnecting. Smaller/shorter magnets are requred (like the little discs mentioned above) . They also do not like the UK small radius curves (try longer versions) and do not couple well on a curve. A big advantage is to uncouple, then gently back onto the waggon and push it to the desired position on a siding, (that is, if contacted while still on the magnet they do not couple up but lock open).
I took have since started using kadees, I've found cutting away the sleepers and packing up with 2mm card brings the height of the magnet just right. Of course because our manufacturers couldn't organise a piss up in a brewery the nem standards seem to be used as guide lines only!!! So adjustments of the tails are needed.
I've also found kinematic couplings to be troublesome due to " droop" and excessive side play so to get reliable uncoupling i remove the kenematic coupling assembly and glue a short piece of plasticard to the bogie and the glue a nem pocket to this. Goes around radius two curves and negotiates peco stream line ( medium rad) points without problems.
Are you ok we haven’t seen any videos in ages hope you are well 👍
By experience with UK OO rolling stock, you can take Kadee no. 18 anytime as your base. With any short two axle period 3 wagon, like 12 ton vans, it works all the time. On any bogie wagon with the pocket mounted on the bogie, or with a kinematic coupling pocket, no. 18 is fine too.
The problem is with some long wheelbase wagons, like the LNER CCT by Hornby, or the Parkside kit equivalent. Here, you'll need a 20 to avoid derailing on curves because there is no kinematic couplings on it, and the pocket is too far "inside" the chassis.
By the way, for kits, you can buy straight non-NEM Kadees, the no 5 model with its proprietary pocket works fine, and, if you need, you can fiddle with different shanks lengths and coupler heights to have the right position. You just glue, or screw, the pocket underneath the chassis at the right place, and the work is done. Can also be used on ready to run non-NEM rolling stock if the conversion is not too fiddly.
Thanks, thats good to know! I have a couple of older items (my old Lima CCT I weathered in an earlier video for one) that will need the Kadee treatment, so thats handy.
Your reference to paypackets bought back a lot of early work memories lol.
I was wondering what you all call your typical coupling mechanisms on British OO model rail stock. I guess you call them "tension lock" couplers. But, this can't possibly be what is used in standard practice full size prototype British railroads. Correct ? I have doing an internet search for what is used in full size applications and I haven't had much success. Could you please send me a link to a youtube site that shows in detail what BR uses ? I've been watching Sam's trains and the tension couplers. What do you all think of this system ? I wouldn't want to use them as they appear to need a bit of force to get them together. I like the gentle "kiss" coupling that Kadee's are famous for. I applaud your efforts. Thanks for reading this inquiry. All the best.
Not sure about modern UK stuff, but for decades the UK stock had a chain link manually placed over a metal hook. These are difficult to model and operate, although some do it. The tension lock mechanism does hook up very easily with a gentle kiss, the hooks have no resistance till they are connected to another waggon. They are uncoupled by stopping over the mechanism and reversing slightly to release the tension on the hooks. A means of raising the hooks is required (manual lift, spring loaded ramp or electro magnet) then the train pulls away leaving the disconnected waggons.
Just found your channel 3 days ago. New to HO and DCC, found your videos very informative. Is your channel still active, last video was 3 months ago. Hope you are well, thanks for the videos!
Haven't seen any postings from you in a while and I would like an Away-A-Day to Loch Doune please. Can you sell me a ticket? (Hope all is well with you.)
Thanks for this. Just starting with Kadee coupling and very useful to see what it’s going to be like with nem sockets. I remember the pay packets.. took me right back! Cheers, D
I’ve been experimenting with Kadee bought the starter pack which is a great help. A loy of my wagons are old jumbo size tension lock which requires some cutting of the old coupling and glueing NEM pocket adapters available on line, slowly deciding what to do with each type, no definitive answer yet.
Regards uncoupling I’ve experimented using neodymium magnets sunk into the baseboard between the sleepers and found this solution works. 3 magnets inside left and three inside right of the track seems the correct spacing. Much cleaner than the big Kadee magnet.
I might try some of those. I take it that its just the neodymium magnets you can pick up on ebay?
@@MessingaboutwithModels Yes I have tried 3-4mm Diameter 10-12 mm long. I get mine from Amazon. Suggest measure gap between sleepers t get largest diameter that will fit. I used 2 per sleeper (1 left 1 right) three sleeper gaps. Need to ensure magnet poles are correct. Easy check to make sure coupling swings ou
If your stock has metal tyred wheel do the backs of the wheels touch the between the rails magnet and create a short-circuit? In which case you would need a beneath the sleepers magnet?? Presumably not difficult if you lay your track on a cork bed???
Not had a short circuit here (touches wood). But thats a good point.
Our club has dozens of the magnets and no short circuit with metal wheels. Wheel back to back measurement needs to be checked.
I am thinking of converting to Kadee but my concern is I don't understand where the flexibility to navigate radius 2 curves comes from if I cut off the hoops then add Kadee to early Hornby stock with the big wide hoops.
Kadee coupling draft/gear boxes contain a centering spring so the knuckle can move from side to side to accommodate curves. The longer the kadee shaft (check the numbers) the smaller radius can be accommodated. But take your point, how does this work with the NEM coupler box, it does not seem to allow side to side movement.
I use kadee they are great
💪 "Promo sm"