Kadee couplers

[ak-milw]

Can Kadee #5 couplers be used with #58 couplers? :cool:

[slimjim]

They sure can.

[ak-milw]

Thanks Jim, Just thought I asked before I bought some. I like the looks of the 58's but I didn't want to have to change all my other couplers to match. :cool:

[Mike Sheridan]

I haven't used the 58s, partly because imagine that as they are smaller they will be less tolerant of misalignment. So although they couple with 5s, you may have extra work in getting coupler heights spot on and lumps in track ironed out.

[ak-milw]

I can see your point! Might just get a couple to try out and see if I have to many problems. :cool:

[Black Cloud]

The #58s will line up perfectly with your #5s, that is, if you have your couplers set right in the first place. They'll drop right in to most newer manufacturers couple pockets, and be aligned because they're center lines are the same. Use a coupler height tool to set all your couplers using Kadee shims. Your operating sessions will go much smoother in the end.

[ak-milw]

I've been using the height tool for a couple of years now, sure makes things run a whole lot smoother!! A little extra time setting your coupler heights will really save time down the line. :cool:

[StickyMonk]

<font color="336633">I have used several sets of number 58's now but as I do not have a working layout at the moment I can't check if my alignment skills are good enough.... or more like my track work is not to bad :D </font>

[friscobob]

I've been slowly switching to the Kadee 58s due mostly to their more accurate size (dead-on for a proper-sized coupler head). They mate very well with the number 5s and the several Kadee wannabes I have in the fleet.

Problems I've seen in couplers not working well are mostly due to improper height, as mentioned before. Second would be something in the coupler box not allowing the coupler to move.

58s are not much more expensive than the 5s (maybe a quarter more per package, if that much), and are darn well worth it.

[Black Cloud]

StickyMonk, just get a Kadee Coupler Guage and set it on a piece of Flextrack on a table. The coupler mounted on the guage will mate up to your couplers while your rolling stock and locos are sitting on the rails. The bottom flange will tell you if the magnet 'hose' is set at the right height also. I've mounted one permanently to a piece of Code 100 Flextrack, with that set on a strip of roadbed glued to a 3 foot long strip of plywood. Now, when I build a car, I set the frame with trucks on the height-test track and make any adjustments before the body is attached.

[Kitbash]

Absolutely. I have about 6 cars and 4 engines running around my layout now w/ 58's hanging on to 5's very nicely.