Model Train Journal

OGR Run 295, December 2017
Fixed Pilots, Kadee Couplers, and O27 on a Door, Pages 54-59
Article and Photos by Patrick Jean

I loved the O-27 on a door switching layout. I was loving the article that went with it on Kadee couplers... until--on page 59, Patrick Jean states, "Plastic couplers (#804) can be used for short trains up to four cars. Longer trains require metal couplers (#805).



OCD OUT OF CONTROL!


The plastic couplers Patrick Jean says can only be used to or short trains up to four cars are Kadee #804 O scale couplers. Kadee's O-Scale couplers are bigger than their HO scale couplers and I suspect are stronger. Kadee tested their HO scale couplers with 12.3 lbs of tension.



On pages 31-35 of the same OGR issue, George Brown tested the Lionel Legacy SD45 (6-83369.) George reports the locomotive weighs 5 lb, 3 oz and has a tractive effort of 3 lb, 3 oz. He tested two of the locomotives with 32 cars.



This locomotive is not capable of damaging a Kadee #405 plastic coupler (no matter how many cars it is coupled to), two locomotives together (6 lb, 6 oz pull) could not... three locomotives together (9 lb, 9 oz) could not damage a #804 Kadee plastic coupler. Not only that, if two of these locomotives (10 lb, 6 oz) were hung by Kadee #405 plastic couplers, the couplers would not be damaged.

Liar, liar,
Pants on Fire!

Patric Jean, your jeans are on fire!
https://youtu.be/S8rCy173y7Y

Did he issue a recall notice?!?!?!

I'm in a lot of trouble, I have plastic Kadees galore

I wonder if he works for OSHA (do they still exist)?

It must be true...if it was on OGR (have the OGR "owners/know-it-alls" concurred?)

webenda wrote:"Plastic couplers (#804) can be used for short trains up to four cars. Longer trains require metal couplers (#805).

That requirement is total nonsense and reflects the mythology and ignorance that OGR embraces.

Seaboard Air Line Fan wrote:(have the OGR "owners/know-it-alls" concurred?)

The OGR owners concurred by publishing the four-car limit statement for Kadee #804 plastic couplers in their magazine.

webenda wrote:

Seaboard Air Line Fan wrote:(have the OGR "owners/know-it-alls" concurred?)

The OGR owners concurred by publishing the four-car limit statement for Kadee #804 plastic couplers in their magazine.

Unsurprising, actually. Their ignorance knows no boundaries.

I don't think I've ever had a Kadee break. I have had the pin fall out of one, but that was a defect, not due to how many cars were in tow.

Broken. Half 0, 0 and #1.
That's ONE of the reasons why ALL kd's on cars we obtain get removed and pitched or given to some unsuspecting newbie who just HAS to have them.

Broken meaning doesn't work or broken meaning part failure? Both plastic and metal broken? Is there a typical failure point on broken KD's Dave?

By volume, HO scale pounds are 5.9543 times lighter than O scale pounds. Kadee's test says George's SD-45 would break the HO plastic coupler as it can only handle 2.0657 O scale pounds.

jlong wrote:By volume, HO scale pounds are 5.9543 times lighter than O scale pounds. Kadee's test says George's SD-45 would break the HO plastic coupler as it can only handle 2.0657 O scale pounds.

Wha...

Lord who gives a rip. things will break. BUT I have 3 OMI Baldwin centipedes with 2 Pittman 9000 series
motors ea, in them that weigh 18 lbs 9 oz total pull 80 cars up 2 1/2 % grades and did not break or bend
one shank. Metal with plastic boxes.

Bob

webenda wrote:Broken meaning doesn't work or broken meaning part failure? Both plastic and metal broken? Is there a typical failure point on broken KD's Dave?

Snapped. Moveable jaw, shank....only two places I can recall.
Fortunately it's always been one...so you pull that car, couple it on the back of the train with the remaining good coupler.....and you can haul it back to the scrapyard.

ScaleCraft wrote:

webenda wrote:Broken meaning doesn't work or broken meaning part failure? Both plastic and metal broken? Is there a typical failure point on broken KD's Dave?

Snapped. Moveable jaw, shank....only two places I can recall.
Fortunately it's always been one...so you pull that car, couple it on the back of the train with the remaining good coupler.....and you can haul it back to the scrapyard.

Thank you Dave.

Apparently, a coupler can break anywhere.

And that is the only thing "prototypical" of a Kadee.

With the snow, I'm wondering if blue brittleness may be a factor. Similar to the Liberty ships that broke apart in colder areas of the North Atlantic.