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It took 2-railers decades to get Kadee to put metal couplers and plastic boxes together.  The boxes never fail, they completely insulate, and are no more obvious than wheelset insulation.  If 3-railers buy them it reinforces Kadee's choice to offer them that way.  Please do.  You have no idea how important this is for 2-rail.

bob2 posted:

It took 2-railers decades to get Kadee to put metal couplers and plastic boxes together.  The boxes never fail, they completely insulate, and are no more obvious than wheelset insulation.  If 3-railers buy them it reinforces Kadee's choice to offer them that way.  Please do.  You have no idea how important this is for 2-rail.

Completely agree. 

However, on the issue of durability, I've never had any of the plastic couplers or boxes fail in any way.

I use metal where possible, as mentioned above.  I do like the plastic gearboxes in places where I need to cutoff the rear portion of the gearbox for clearance, such as with a lot of MTH locomotives unless you want to cutoff the loop on the truck block instead?   Just easier for me to use clippers on plastic gearbox vs dremel with cutoff wheel on metal gearbox.  As noted, I've never had a failure of a plastic gearbox or plastic Kadee coupler, so it's really your personal choice.   

prrjim posted:

I am surprised  you can tighten the screws through the boxes so tight to warp them without stripping out the threads in the carbody!

By ever so slightly reaming the center hole in the metal Kadee gear box, a 2-56 machine screw will fit through that hole. Drilling the proper hole in the under frame, and then taping to 2-56, one can tighten that screw pretty darn tight, which warps the plastic cover & gear box assembly.

I had one short out on the third rail when it derailed. I prefer the plastic 800 series couplers only because they work better. The new 740 series look great ! and the metal ones are strong !!  I just find the plastic boxes with plastic couplers couple and uncouple a lot easier, with the magnets and the pick. However 95% of my couplers are the new 740 series all metal.

Clem  

I prefer metal, but use plastic boxes on brass cars. The plastic box insulates the car from the metal couplers. The mounting screw provides the strength that prevents misalignment of the coupler under load. Over-tightening the box will inhibit coupler movement, though, so be judicious in tightening things down. Kadee 806 and 743's only come with plastic boxes.

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OGR Publishing, Inc., 1310 Eastside Centre Ct, Suite 6, Mountain Home, AR 72653
800-980-OGRR (6477)
www.ogaugerr.com

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