S Scale Couplers

There are at this time (3/1/08) four couplers used by most S-scale modelers.

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• The Kadee #5, an HO coupler chosen by many because the size is close to scale.

• The Kadee 802 - a design for On3 but used by many because of it's good operation and easy installation.

• The S Helper Service coupler. Mates with the KD 802, comes already assembled, and installs easily on SHS cars.

• The Sergent coupler. Built to scale. Has great appearance but a tricky assembly. Automatic coupling. Uncoupling is manually with a magnetic "wand". Does not have the gathering range of the others but wins on appearance. Sergent couplers are the only scale coupler that can have a slot and hole added to the knuckle for link-and-pin coupling.

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Images from Wikipedia
Prototype Type E coupler ................. Prototype couplers joined

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Kadee 802.................................Kadee 802 couplers joined

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Sergent coupler..............................Sergent couplers joined

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Sergent compared with Kadee 802. ........... Sergent joined with KD#5
Sergent couplers will not mate with the KD 802 but some have reported that they will mate with KD#5. This picture by Terry Harrison from Craig O'Connell's website shows the join. Craig's site is an excellent surce of S-scale information - especially on S-scale products, manufacturers, and vendors.

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Click for link to Assembling KD 802 Couplers

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Anonymous tips from experienced users on how to apply S Helper Service (SHS) Kadee (KD) style couplers to American Models (AM) freight cars

• Drill and tap for a 2-56 screw right through the hole provided for the AM dummy coupler box. Then attach the KD box with a 2-56 screw. If the screw doesn't hold, use a 2-56 nut on top of the floor where the screw pokes through. And whether or not you use a nut, flow a drop of super glue into the mating surfaces (coupler box to floor) to prevent the box from rotating around the screw.

• The older American Models (box cars,reefers, 2 bay hoppers and etc) were (are?) tooled for their 'scale' coupler, while the newer models (spine, PS-2 CD, tank cars and etc.) have tooling for KD 802s. Frequently the tooled screw holes are too large. With a little practice and eye-hand coordination slipping the centering spring into the shank slot in the box, putting the cap on and screwing in place can be done with two hands and a screwdriver.

• Touch a small soldering iron to the KD coupler box seams and it welds the box together. Don't try glue. Super glue seeps in by capillary action and may destroy the centering spring motion.

• For specific tips on the application of Kadee 802s/808s and S Helper Service #1295 couplers to S Helper Service cars and locomotives, see "Scale Coupler Corner" located under Tips & Tricks on the S Helper Service web site.

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Sergent Engineering Couplers in S scale

Sergent Engineering has discontinued their S Scale EC64 couplers. If you are interested in seeing them re-released (especially as die-cast), please let the manufacturer know!

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• A very few S scale modelers are modeling the era(s) prior to the use of the knuckle coupler. These modelers are using various commercial link-and-pin couplers. The most common couplers used are those made by Grandt Line, and the Back Shop. They are reasonably close to scale, and not altogether impossible to operate, although extreme care and skill must be exercised in all coupling operations. These are most suited to static displays where appearance is more important than operation.