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Sergent couplers Journals/Blogs
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New member 1 post Les Brandt New member 1 post
Les Brandt

Recently purchase, assembled, & operated some Sergent couplers.  I operate regularly on two local layouts using Kadee couplers.  One layout has some permanent magnet uncouplers, some electromagnetic uncouplers.  The other layout uses wood skewer picks exclusively.  Problems I have with Kadees that do not occur with the Sergents:  1)  Moving a cut of cars over a permanent magnet uncoupler often causes false uncoupling.  2)  Struggling to get the pick into the gap between the Kadee knuckles in order to spin the pick is frustrating and time consuming occasionally, especially when the distance needed to reach the couplers is more than a few inches.  Have not had the opportunity to use the Sergents in an operating session, only on a short demo on one layout and the test track on my work bench.  I sometimes count rivets, so I do like the Sergents.
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jlrc47 Regular poster 401 posts
jlrc47

I tried Sergent Couplers

I tried Sergent Couplers. I had 17 cars with them and found not to work reliable. Some times they would couple and close fine other times they would not. Having to tap them with the wand to make them work. They are also make switching very slow and with two large yards it would kill operations on my layout. I opted to get rid of them and stick with Kadee's. Still have them if anyone is interested.

I agree with the permanent magnets do not always work like you would want them.

For uncoupling Kadee's I get slack in the couplers and use the air hose with the skewer.

My 2 cents.

gniture1.png 

Amherst Railway Society   HHJ YouTube channel

 
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redP Frequent poster 570 posts
redP

Break in

Sergents do have a break in period and require graphite lubrication. As far as it slowing down ops. thats because the give prototypical operation. You actually have to lift the pin to open the knuckle. I use Sergents exclusively and I am satisfied with them. I guess it all depends what level of realism you are satisfied with.

 Modeling Penn Central and early Amtrak in the summer of 1972

 
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Trevor at The Model Railway Show Regular poster 179 posts
Trevor at The Model Railway Show

I used Sergents before - and would again

As "NSengineer" notes, they improve with use and satisfaction depends on the level of realism you're seeking. Prototype switching takes a lot of time - more than most of us are willing to spend during a layout operating session. I used Sergent's EN87A couplers on my On2 Maine two-footer for many years. I had a half dozen locomotives, 8 or 10 passenger cars, and a few dozen freight cars so equipped. And they were perfect for my ops sessions. Now that I'm working in S, I would love to see Frank update the S coupler he used to offer. The old one was a white metal kit and I could never get them to work for me. It wasn't a fault with the kit so much as with my abilities and patience. If Frank introduced them as assembled die-cast couplers I'd buy 75 pair. But I'm realistic about the market and don't expect them. So, I'm using Kadees. I'd prefer the Sergent couplers because they use a magnetic wand instead of a pick to uncouple. I think that's easier on the couplers, less likely to damage the cars, and easier for operators to use - especially since my layout lighting provides a strong sense of sun direction and casts pretty dark shadows between the ends of house cars. Good luck with the couplers. You may find you need less equipment to have a satisfying operating session since the Sergent couplers will slow down switching. Cheers! -Trevor

Trevor Marshall

Port Rowan in 1:64

An S scale study of a Canadian National Railways
branch line in southern Ontario - in its twilight years

My blog postings on M-R-H
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