I've added KD couplers to an old Atlas Yellow box locomotive (Roco drives) using the good old #5 and the coupler box that comes with it. The tools needed are an X-Acto Knife (or equivalent), small jeweler's file, and a pair of needle nose pliers. First, use the pliers to remove the coupler pin to remove the horn hook coupler. Second, prepare the KD coupler box by removing the ears on both sides of the box. Third, assemble the coupler box with coupler per instructions given. Next, try to push the coupler box through the front of the locomotive until the coupler box hole lines up where the original pin was located. This part of the step may require filing of the area where the ears were removed along with the opening for the coupler. If everything goes well, the coupler assembly will fit snugly in the opening. Use the old coupler pin to hold the coupler assembly in place. I would like to note that KD offers the newer whisker couplers along a coupler box without the ears of the old plastic coupler box. This eliminates the need to remove the ears on the old-style coupler box, but I have plenty of them lying around to use. So, I still use this method because of my supply.
@@ScottRails Agreed. I'm OCD about coupler alignment. The Kadee bushings and screw allow adjustment to minimize vertical play and tweak height. I think you will find any F7 will need my much tighter method. The opening is gigantic and loose couplers resemble a flopping fish.
Hey Dave, I think you should upload videos a little less frequently. If I'm correct, you've been doing one every day for a while now, and burnout is very real; you're definitely going to feel it at some point. If I'm wrong, hey, thats ok.
So I hear this a lot, but here's something to think about. RUclips is my full time job. Most people sit in traffic for an hour, work like dogs for 8 hours, then sit in traffic for another hour. No-one ever tells them to stop working or they might burn out, lol. My wife has been doing that for 35 years. At least I have the luxury of being able to take a day off whenever I feel like it. Most people do not.
Nicely done. Nice and simple
I've added KD couplers to an old Atlas Yellow box locomotive (Roco drives) using the good old #5 and the coupler box that comes with it. The tools needed are an X-Acto Knife (or equivalent), small jeweler's file, and a pair of needle nose pliers. First, use the pliers to remove the coupler pin to remove the horn hook coupler. Second, prepare the KD coupler box by removing the ears on both sides of the box. Third, assemble the coupler box with coupler per instructions given. Next, try to push the coupler box through the front of the locomotive until the coupler box hole lines up where the original pin was located. This part of the step may require filing of the area where the ears were removed along with the opening for the coupler. If everything goes well, the coupler assembly will fit snugly in the opening. Use the old coupler pin to hold the coupler assembly in place. I would like to note that KD offers the newer whisker couplers along a coupler box without the ears of the old plastic coupler box. This eliminates the need to remove the ears on the old-style coupler box, but I have plenty of them lying around to use. So, I still use this method because of my supply.
Nicely Done Dave.
Easy solution Dave.
Happy modelling
The hat thing really does work.
Quick easy fix 😊
Great video
Nice Dave! The hat suits too :D
Excellent demo
Thanks Joe.
Perfect!
It’s perrrrrrfect. Lol
Yup! Your method is simpler than mine. You may still need the draft box mod I sent for the F-units. Thanks.
Yes, this method works because there is a slot at the front and back of this loco.
@@ScottRails Agreed. I'm OCD about coupler alignment. The Kadee bushings and screw allow adjustment to minimize vertical play and tweak height. I think you will find any F7 will need my much tighter method. The opening is gigantic and loose couplers resemble a flopping fish.
... just keep it under your hat !!!
Good stuff.. but this is where the test/programming track with the height gauge comes into play instead of just sitting there with no use.... lol..
Maybe I checked on that first ;-)
Kady couplers are a good choice the bachman easy mate couplers don't do so well as far as holding on, they come uncoupled easy.
The plastic couplers are also more likely to snap if you're trying to pull 50 box cars.
Hey Dave, I think you should upload videos a little less frequently. If I'm correct, you've been doing one every day for a while now, and burnout is very real; you're definitely going to feel it at some point. If I'm wrong, hey, thats ok.
So I hear this a lot, but here's something to think about. RUclips is my full time job. Most people sit in traffic for an hour, work like dogs for 8 hours, then sit in traffic for another hour. No-one ever tells them to stop working or they might burn out, lol.
My wife has been doing that for 35 years.
At least I have the luxury of being able to take a day off whenever I feel like it. Most people do not.
Didn't know it was your full-timer. Glad to hear it isn't a problem. Keep up the good work, Dave! Love your videos!