Lionel Spacers supplied with new PS1 Grain Cars . . . . what the heck?

Terry DanksOGR Forum Member

I am installing KD couplers on my new PS1 grain cars. Each car comes with a packet that includes a pair of mounting screws and a pair of the spacers shown here lying on top of an inverted car with the truck removed . . .

Here is a spacer installed into the holes . . .

This is all so thoughtful . . . . but . . . here is a KD installed on a car, with no spacer whatsoever . . .

I have no idea what these beautifully designed spacers are supposed to be for. Not Kadees at any rate. Any attempt to use them with KDs results in a grossly out of height coupler.

What are these "mystery spacers" and why is Lionel including them? The self tapping screws are a godsend though. Thanks, Lionel!

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7/24/1712:36 PM

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ecd15OGR Forum Member

The Kadee coupler you show looks like it has an offset shank. The spacer is probably for those that use center shank couplers or the older 804 / 805 couplers, which are not available with offset shanks.

Opinion.

7/24/1712:41 PM

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Hot WaterOGR Forum Member SUPPORTING MEMBER

ecd15 posted:
The Kadee coupler you show looks like it has an offset shank. The spacer is probably for those that use center shank couplers or the older 804 / 805 couplers, which are not available with offset shanks.
Opinion.

That's it, alright! The coupler shown in his third photo is off-set downward, which would be the same result as installing the provided shim and using a straight shank 805 or 740 Kadee.

7/24/1712:49 PM

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Terry DanksOGR Forum Member

Thanks, Bob and HW. Mystery solved!

7/24/171:27 PM

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