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What Kadee Coupler Should I Use On the Front of a Broadway Limited M1-A Mountain? MRH forum help
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Prolific poster 1,002 posts John Winter Prolific poster 1,002 posts
John Winter

Looking for some help with what Kadee coupler will fit on the front of a  Broadway Limited M1-A & B Mountain.

Thanks for your help.     John

My Layout Blog: http://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/node/22280
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cruizer219 Active Member 32 posts
cruizer219

same question here

I got an M1b Mountain myself. Kadee does not yet have this (or other recent ) locos listed on their website so i am really at a loss to guess what # to try on the pilot. It comes with a cosmetic coupler instead of a working one (why i dunno). Unsure if the cosmetic one just pulls out or what. I have most every # kadee coupler available to try (from sampler pack) but did not want to start tinkering without getting some wisdom from other modelers more experienced with BLI steam models. Any advice is welcomed! Thanks in advance!
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Virginian and Lake Erie Super User 9,928 posts
Virginian and Lake Erie

I would say turn it over and

I would say turn it over and see how to remove it and take it out and see what matches up with it. Kadee likely has something that will fit. Whiskers might be a better choice if the coupler boxes are narrow.

Rob in Texas

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cruizer219 Active Member 32 posts
cruizer219

pulled coupler out and

it is similar to kadee #18 style (european style plug-in coupler) on the end, but smaller. I tried using a #18 but the height is far far off. I took a pic but cannot see how to upload it using my old android phone to access mrh site right now. Anyhow... 1) i plan to contact BLI about getting a driver without the traction tires (the web page for #4082 m1b said driver was "included available" and wasnt included) so i will ask them about the pilot coupler when i call. Please check back, i will post their response here. 2) while not fully tested, i noticed that the static pilot couupler will fasten to a working coupler if u slowl lower the working coupler into the static one from top or bottom. This is not ideal but may provide a manual way to latch up for double heading. It is quite puzzling how manufacturers spend so much resources designing these locos, adding details and features to their steam models and totally ignore the pilot coupler! Dont they know we want a working pilot? Athearn seems too, maybe others but BLI models i have all have a static nonfunctional one. Go figure! Hats off to the manufacturers that DO think first about all the important functions THEN the form! For me, function has always been the necessity, form is "nice to have too" component. Seems like for pilot couplers, it would be easy for them to give us both. Cruiz
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Prof_Klyzlr Moderator 8,289 posts
Prof_Klyzlr

"Form"

Dear Cruiz,

Quote:

 form is "nice to have too" component

Of course you're aware that "form" in most modeller's minds = "scale appearance",

and a manufacturer bringing an obviously "of-of-scale appearance" component
(oversized front coupler,
coupler with trip-pin which compromises the pilot/catcher,
coupler with draftgear which compromises leading truck swing,
coupler with mounting/draftgear that fits against leading-truck, but does not swing/auto-centre/auto-couple,
etc),

to market frequently gets chastised mightily for it...

As a manufacturer, one could be forgiven for thinking "there's no winning this game"...

Happy Modelling,
Aim to Improve,
Prof Klyzlr

 
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cruizer219 Active Member 32 posts
cruizer219

good point

Understood and point taken. Its an area that could be a no-win for the maker but perhaps they could give us better options. The marvelous advances in electronics & manufacturing have just made me frustrated about old issues like that a working pilot coupler is still not being provided routinely, even when we pay several hundred dollars for the product. I was recently scanning some old 1982ish RMC magazines smiling at the "new" locos and features contained within. Back then, few steam locos had working pilot couplers even tho the prototypes had and used them often. It just seems like progress should have been made on this by now. Recognizing your point and manufacturers' balancing act, could they offer two pilot coupler options, like they sometimes do with traction tire and non-traction tire drivers being offered? A new loco owner could choose to use a scale model coupler or a working coupler. Perhaps an even cheaper option for them, just be smart about the design of the pilot coupler's connector. That is, making it so that it easily accepts one of the more standard types of coupler connections available in the market; any kadee type u know, and that they planned for a screw hole or similar method of attaching. Then we could make our own choices and easily execute it. Worst is when they use a unique design so we have to reinvent and overcome to get something to work while aso looking decent (to our personal standard). The height of the "box" or connector is often this sort of challenge that is left to us to handle and is one of the more difficult to overcome (and in a highly visible location with little wiggl room for modification). I should also state that i am loving this model otherwise! Great performance, great looks, and great rolling thunder sound (with and without the subwoofer). I guess that makes the pilot coupler issue more of a puzzle and frustration, at present. We may ultimately find that BLI has a coupler solution for the pilot or that there is another product just unknown to us right now that will work well. Or that there is a technique from an experienced modeler that may fit this situation and we just havent heard of it yet.
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DrJolS Frequent poster 625 posts
DrJolS

Outside (without) the BOX

I have some BLI and Sunset brass locos that need a better coupler in the pilot to accept Kadee couplers on the cars . I'm just starting to work this out, but it looks like it may be easier to mount a coupler without the box and spring or whiskers. Just cut off the part of the coupler that takes the 2-56 mounting screw, Drill a tiny hole for a pin or skinny screw (0-80?) and drill into underside of the pilot for mounting. There won't be any automatic centering action, but that's prototypical. Report on progress will happen.

DrJolS
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cruizer219 Active Member 32 posts
cruizer219

BLI customer service said...

They do not have alternative pilot couplers for this model.  As Prof Klyzir anticipated, BLI designers were MOST concerned with the appearance of the coupler and directed their resources toward producing the most accurate (non-functioning) pilot coupler they could.  It was produced by their factory (its not a part produced by a separate supplier) and they are not aware of any alternatives available in the market that have a similar fitting.

I must add that BLI customer service rep was as nice and as knowledgeable as a caller could ever wish for!!!  'Extremely helpful in researching my questions about the pilot coupler, about the possibility of upgrading older BLI locos to Paragon3 (they are working on this), and in getting me the non-traction-tire driver I sought for this loco (at no charge).

Cruiz

 

    
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