Kadee compatibility

[GrahamMills]

I wondered if anyone can point me to a description of the compatibility between Kadee and AristoCraft and USA Trains couplers.

I am sure this must have been covered on the fiorum before but I can not locate anything.

 

[Rhinochugger]

Graham

I think if you go Kadee, you go totally Kadee.

Can't think where I've seen the tables that identify what number of Kadee coupling you need for G Scale. I also understand that you need some sort of jig to get the couplings mounted at the same height.

Wouldn't do for the WWSR - everything's a bit too approximate

 

[The Devonian]

Graham,
I don't have any Kaydees on my stock, I am quite happy with the Aristo couplers so I offer little advice. I understand, from reading posts on another Forum that there are a variety of Kaydee couplers: some modelers it seems have a preference over one type rather than another. I believe George Schreyer has something you might find useful to read on his web site.
http://www.girr.org/girr/tips/tips2/kadee_tips.html < Link To http://www.girr.org/girr/.ps/tips2/kadee_tips.html

Good luck with your quest.

 

[MR SPOCK]

Both the G scale and the #1 scale kaddees will work well with Aristo, they just wont uncouple with the magnets,​

The same is true for USAT but less reliable at locking, but usat types are like that with other makes as well,​

I have used a mix of them, but now have no USAT at all, and only a few Aristo,​

also G scale and #1 scale will also mix so you can phase in the change over, ​

#1 scale needs more even track as not tolerant of big dippers like parts of my track are​

 

[GrahamMills]

Thanks for the responses guys.

 

[supagav]

Hi Graham,

I hope I can offer some advice, as my father and I have used both Aristo, USA trains and Kadees in the past, and now use Kadee body mount couplers exclusively.

Kadee couplers are generally compatible with Aristo and USA trains couplers, but as Rhinochugger correctly points out, the main problem is the coupler height. Unfortunately there is no standard mounting height between manufacturers and thus when it comes to coupler compatibility it is very much a grey area sadly. I recently had this problem with a new USA trains streamlined coach which had the stock USAT couplers still on as I hadn't had any time to change them. When I tried to hook it up to my GP9 fitted with Kadees for a short test run, it was just way too low! It would barely even couple at all! I then tried it with my Aristo E8 with aristo couplers and had the same problem. That was just an aristo coupler and a USA trains coupler too!

The short answer is yes they are compatible and often work well, but to really get the most out of the upgrade to kadees you need to fit all stock with them correctly using the Kadee height gauge. Once this is done however, they are the most reliable and best looking option available, particularly the body mount option which mounts to the car floor.

The cotton belt boxcar is the photo is fitted with body mounting Kadee #830 couplers, with just a little lick of acrylic paint to give a rusty look:

I you have any more questions about it, please feel free to drop me message!