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BNSF Fan
New Hire
49 Posts |
 Posted - 06/22/2012 : 6:22:05 PM
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I am considering upgrading to Sergent couplers and am curious as to what experience my fellow modelers have. I am a modern era modeler so my diesels are SD70 series as well as a few new GEs.
Respectfully,
BNSF Fan
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parkerlegend
New Hire
USA
48 Posts |
Posted - 06/22/2012 : 6:25:48 PM
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| RIP OFF. I have NOT and will NOT buy them. It would be like converting all my new energy efficient bulbs that cost $0.99 a piece over to LED lightbulbs at $13 a pop. NOPE! Not for Big Al. I am perfectly happy with Kadees as I am sure MOST smart model railroaders are. Do not get ripped off too. |
MONSTERRAILROAD
aka Big Al Mayo
Member since 02/21/2008 |
Edited by - parkerlegend on 06/22/2012 6:26:17 PM |
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Red P
Crew Chief
USA
898 Posts |
Posted - 06/22/2012 : 6:59:12 PM
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I have been using them for a few years now and I dont use anything else. They are more realistic looking and have more realistic operation.
They are not for everybody, but if you are into realism you should give them a try.
P |
http://pcpanhandle.shutterfly.com/ |
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cf7
New Hire
19 Posts |
Posted - 06/22/2012 : 7:21:34 PM
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They are definitely NOT a rip off!!
As was stated, they are not for everybody.
But they ARE the most realistic coupler, both in appearance and operation.
I gave them a try a couple of years ago before I built my present layout and really liked them.
But when I mounted my layout on the wall with my staging yard over my couch I found out they would not work for me. This was because of the height of my layout. Now I could no longer look directly down over the coupler to adjust them and open K's. If I could have had my layout at a height of most layouts I would still be using them. Once you find out how easy they are to build it's much cheaper to assemble them yourself and save a few bucks for more couplers.
I now use nothing but Kadee scale couplers with the trip pins cut off and they work and look great. I use a little Tapestry needle for all un-coupling and everything works smooth.
But if you like the looks of the Sergent couplers by all means give them a try as see what you think. It does slow down the operation a bit and that's great for our hobby.
Good luck, cf7 |
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BNSF Fan
New Hire
49 Posts |
Posted - 06/22/2012 : 7:47:21 PM
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Red P, have you installed them on your motive power? If so, were there any problems? As stated, I run several SD70MACs and SD70ACes.
Respectfully,
BNSF Fan |
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Red P
Crew Chief
USA
898 Posts |
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On30fan
Crew Chief
USA
506 Posts |
Posted - 06/23/2012 : 05:19:00 AM
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| I've been using them for several years also and I like them. They're not for everyone. If you get the bulk packs and put them together yourself, the price per car is cheaper than Kadees. |
Cheers,
Steve
San Juan Lumber Company
Niagara Frontier Traction Company |
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Thorn Creek and Western
Fireman
USA
2363 Posts |
Posted - 06/23/2012 : 11:44:10 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by Red P
I have them installed on my motive power also, and have no problems.
That's a beautiful model, Scott, and the Sergent coupler compliments it.
-Dave |
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southshore
New Hire
USA
4 Posts |
Posted - 06/23/2012 : 1:14:02 PM
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| I love them. They are not a rip off. They are the NEW HO standard. We owe a lot to kadee but Sergent is a major step up. Knuckles that pivot, not slide L to R, NO EXPOSED spring (when did you see that on the prototype). I have had no trouble with them. |
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CIND 2254
New Hire
USA
10 Posts |
Posted - 06/23/2012 : 3:15:47 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by parkerlegend
RIP OFF. I have NOT and will NOT buy them. It would be like converting all my new energy efficient bulbs that cost $0.99 a piece over to LED lightbulbs at $13 a pop. NOPE! Not for Big Al. I am perfectly happy with Kadees as I am sure MOST smart model railroaders are. Do not get ripped off too.
What? How is it a rip off? I use them and I love them, kadees just dont cut it for me anymore.
Christian |
Modeling the Central Railway of Indianapolis Circa. 1996-1998
 
"Central!" |
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BNSF Fan
New Hire
49 Posts |
Posted - 06/23/2012 : 3:19:37 PM
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Thanks for the info fellow modelers. I placed an order last night. Now I will have a mix of coupler types; X2f, Kadee #5s, and Kadee #158s. In order to use all of my rolling stock, I will use a trick Whit Towers used when converting from Baker couplers to Kadee. I will have a few transition cars, cars with a Sergent on one end and a X2F, Kadee #5, or Kadee #158 on the other end.
Respectfully,
BNSF |
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Red P
Crew Chief
USA
898 Posts |
Posted - 06/23/2012 : 4:10:00 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by southshore
I love them. They are not a rip off. They are the NEW HO standard. We owe a lot to kadee but Sergent is a major step up. Knuckles that pivot, not slide L to R, NO EXPOSED spring (when did you see that on the prototype). I have had no trouble with them.
Thanks Dave.
Prototype drawbars dont have centering springs. Ive had to put my back into quite a few 300lb. drawbars.
P |
http://pcpanhandle.shutterfly.com/ |
Edited by - Red P on 06/23/2012 4:15:15 PM |
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bullbrauch
Engine Wiper
124 Posts |
Posted - 06/23/2012 : 6:56:14 PM
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| I love the Sergent couplers! Go for it. |
Brandan
Living in Colorado,
home of the Rio Grande |
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n6nvr
Engine Wiper
307 Posts |
Posted - 06/23/2012 : 7:31:04 PM
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One of the guys in my club has them on his passenger cars and while they look good, they don't add too much since they are almost hidden by the close coupling and diaphragms. Also it's at best and maybe a loss on operations, since he couples the cars together and the train stays together until it's time to uncouple and go home. That's when they become a real negative, seems he almost always forgets his uncoupling tools and getting the cars apart with close coupling and close diaphragms is quite an interesting evolution when trying to not break or bend anything.
I've never seen any being used in freight car operations so I can't comment there but for passenger cars they seem to be overkill. |
Don't push me bureaucrat, I've got a bit of hangover |
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brownbr
Crew Chief
USA
763 Posts |
Posted - 06/23/2012 : 7:59:25 PM
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I had never seen these. Thanks for bringing me up to date. I like the way they look but worry about using the magnetic wand given the height of my layout. I'm planning on using the bamboo skewer tool for uncoupling now and for the couple of long reaches I got one of the Rix magnetic uncouplers for Kadee.
I figure the HO will work for On30 |
Bryan |
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CBryars2
Engine Wiper
USA
406 Posts |
Posted - 06/23/2012 : 9:57:27 PM
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Switching over completely to Sergents. Love the couplers. Took a little while to learn to build them, but once you get the hang of it they go fast. Build most of my own cars (HOn3) and they are now part of my std build. Buy them by gross (144) and they are very cost competitive. Really work well and are much more prototypical. Make sure you lubricate with graphite and clean all holes (sometimes there can be a little piece of walnut shell in hole).
Some people might be put off by their open religious stance but doesn't bother me, and I'm Jewish. I figure each person should be free to express themselves.
Thanks Cameron
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Topic |
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Sergent couplers, who is using them
