Kadee Coupler Question

rogerpete posted:

We are double heading a pair of Lionel 736's this year on a layout. I purchased a pair of Kadee 804's to mount on the converted rear locomotive, through a bar that operates off the pilot axle. Will we also need to convert the tender on the lead, or does Kadee mate up well?

Kadee couplers mate up VERY WELL. Pay close attention to their height, and always use the Kadee coupler height gauge. Virtually everything O own in O Scale has been up-graded to Kadee couplers, and I even used Kadee couplers back in the late 1950s when I was in HO Scale. 

but will they mate up to the traditional lobster claw?

rogerpete posted:

but will they mate up to the traditional lobster claw?

That depends on the brand of "lobster claw". I have found that my Kadee equipped locomotives will couple fairly nicely with most brands of "claws", i.e. MTH, Atlas, Sunset/3rd Rail. The Lionel and Weaver "claws" seem to be hit-or-miss, in my experience. The newest 740 series of Kadee couplers, will NOT couple to "lobster claws".

thanks!

800 series usually mate up just fine with 3 rail couplers, BUT they can come uncoupled when double heading engines. If the 2 engines nudge each other back and forth because they dont run identically... then theres a problem.

As soon as the "slack" runs in against the 3 rail coupler, the Kadee will open. Same thing will happen if you have a Kadee coupled to a 3 rail coupler in the train on a steep grade. On the downhill side, the slack runs in, opens the Kadee knuckle, and the joint is separated.

Like Hot Water said, 700 series... not so much.