Protocraft & Kadee Couplers

I am working on it with Timdude we will have a full review here asap

There will in the very near future be a definitive article published on the available O scale couplers and their compatibility.

Hi to all

Straight can go fine.

handle a tight  "S" curve doesn't because the kadee doesn't close itself into the protocraft, the room is not big enough for the kadee knucle to close.

Now if your curves are wide like in the real world it could work, or make a adapter car with proto in one side and kadee in the other.

here some pictures.

I believe we are referring to the new magnetic Proto-Craft couplers. The couplers shown are Clouser's traction couplers- beautiful they are; not exactly what we need.

http://www.protocraft.com/cate...ID=689&Categoryid=15

Boy, these new "magnetic" Proto-Craft couplers look fantastic. When were then announced, and are they available now?   Also, will these new models couple consistently with the Kadee 805 models, and the newer Kadee 740 series?

Protocraft has 2 closer couplers,1 that has to be assembled,the other is the magnetic coupler as you said that can be operated with a magnetic wand or bottom operated with cut levers. As I said I'm new to O scale,so am depending on the advanced experience of others. I'm making my observations from the knowledge & experience I have.The magnetic couplers work great,but they don't look like a modern E coupler.I'd like to see a new coupler that looks like the San Quan couplers with the "lightening" slots on the the "thumb" side of the coupler,combined with the great working parts of the Protocraft couplers & upper & lower safety shelfs for modern freight. These safety shelfs could be cut off or offered separately as add ons.For a look at the Double shelf couplers,look up AAR E double shelf couplers. This should bring up my large scale,which's a G scale website. Or you can put G double shelf couplers in your address bar.
Burl has made a double shelf coupler for G scale out of Nylon & he's looking at making these couplers out of steel. I'm not a pro in O scale but we need E & F & H couplers for O scale. I think the entire scale would move more towards prototype cars & operation.
That's my $5 worth,not just 5cents. (Smile).Al Hummel

On Thursday, December 4, 2014 7:04 PM, O Gauge Railroading On Line Forum <alerts@hoop.la> wrote:


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| Subject: Protocraft & Kadee Couplers Reply By: Erik C Lindgren In: Train Forums / 2-Rail SCALE | |

I believe we are referring to the new magnetic Proto-Craft couplers. The couplers shown are Clouser's traction couplers- beautiful they are; not exactly what we need.   View This Reply
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I believe it has been roughly a year or so.

Norm does have them in stock. Troubling part we've discovered is the draft box incompatibility with just about every Kadee application. Custom tap and drill is the only way. I would surmise he was avoiding copyright to produce a Kadee 4 way mount? Timdude you have had some contact with Norm over this would you elaborate a little further?

I am mounting a set on my Key Model Imports ATSF PA set. A consist of at least 90-100lbs on the drawbar so I am obviously hopeful for a successful compatibility with the 805's mounted on my passenger and head end gear.





       

Everyone knows that the older Kadee couples right up to dummy couplers, right?  I have very few Clouser/HiSierra couplers, but have not noticed any problem coupling up with the knuckle closed, like a dummy.

 

On the shelf couplers - probably long past time for someone - not me - to fund this for Mr. Hummel.

Kadee 805 on top
Protocraft magnetic in middle
Kadee 745 on bottom

Please pardon the photo quality all done with my iPhone 6 plus.

I have been installing the new Protocrafts on various cars now. The Protocraft boxes are beautiful but will not use the stock mounting holes on Atlas cars. they stick out about 3/16 of and inch or so. You must drill new hole or use the Protocraft couplers in Atlas boxes. The short Kadee boxes can work if you cut off the rear stem of the Protocraft coupler. I have done this to my engines and cabooses because those holes are already set up for the short Kadee box. I cut off the back stem and fill the box with black RTV because I don't need them to move side to side on the radius I am running. The standard Kadee hole placement is about half a hole different from the Protocraft box. I asked Norm about this and he said he could not and would change it due to tooling cost. He also said I was the first guy to complain about it. I think these couplers have been primarily used in the brass arena where you are drilling your own holes anyways a lot of the time. Intermountain cars take a slight trim of the center frame and again an elongation of the rear hole and you can use the Protocraft box. I don't tap them I use through bolts with nuts on the back. Most of my PFE cars are Intermountain so I am fine with that.

Norm says they will not work with Kadees but I believe he means the operation side of the equation as they seem to hook together by the 5 finger switcher method. I made 2 transition reefers just in case.

I cannot post pictures, but if Erik comes up he can post the various modifications I did with his phone.

I also took the Kadee coupler gauge and modified it with a Protocraft coupler just so everything is the same. Pretty easy, I will have Erik take a picture of that also. I plan on Protocraft exclusively and they blow Kadees out of the water (or off the tracks in this case)

Not to be critical of a superb new product, but doesn't the left side of the new Kadee look a bit more realistic?  Or is the Protocraft a copy of a more modern coupler casting?

 

And while I love good operating scale couplers like Scale Craft, Clouser, and Lionel 700, there is a cost factor for some of us?  Kadee prices may be up, but they are still within reachnof the common man.  Now if we could only get them to make die cast freight trucks?

Photo copyright courtesy: Tim Burton (Tim's Toy Trains)

I was surprised that the Protocraft draft boxes were light grey.  I've been admiring them on the ProtoCraft web site, but had assumed that light color was from a pre-production model.  Do these hold paint well, and if so, what type/brand of paint?

 

...gregg

I just rattle canned mine haven't noticed any issues, but I don't handle the cars much once they are done.

 "I plan on Protocraft exclusively and they blow Kadees out of the water (or off the tracks in this case)"

 

    It will take about 20 years to find that out. I have some of the oldest Kadees and they still work fine. The problem I see with these new couplers is they have a moving pin that is likely to get gummed up over time. I've used all the various operating knuckle couplers over the years and none have been as reliable as the plain old Kadees. The Kadee design uses geometry instead of relying on a moving pin which is much better design for operational reliability...DaveB