Chris Some time ago on this forum I demonstrated how nitinol wire could be added to these couplers to enable self centering. The .005 dia wire simulates the Kadee whisker couplers action. These wires

Subsequently I have found that a lateral bias equivalent to substituting .008 wire for .005 can be obtained by installing two .005 wires on one side. Turns out it is just as effective and results in t

I feel like the wires have to stick out of the box. I don't want them to scrape their ends on the plastic since these wires being incredibly small are sharp. I'm thinking they could dig in to the plas

I reported previously that I had replicated the Kadee whisker coupler centering technique for Sergents. That was using some .008 Nitinol super-elastic wire that I had on hand. I ordered some .005 wire

Well you know, Mr. Lei (UP4096 in this group) who has taken up the manufacturing of Sergent design couplers in China might be able to pull it off. I hope he views this thread. On the other hand Kadee

John: I had mentioned in previous postings that others had already come up with similar ideas. I believe that your concept was one that I was referring to. But I think your method will not work in the

On this forum I have proposed several solutions for self centering but I am always striving to improve. I admire the Kadee "whisker coupler" technique and wondered if it could be adapted. I grabbed my

I broke one of my Sergent uncoupling wands. Dropped it on the floor and it broke cleanly in two. Glued together with CA, broke again, same place. So, enough of that. Glued it again but then enclosed i

I think you are probably correct about the dissimilar profiles being an issue. I have regular E and lower shelf E couplers only (and I haven't built the lower shelf ones yet). I think the paddle would

If coupling on straight track Sergent couplers will mate without intervention most of the time, especially if self centering. However, if there is a kink in the track or if one car is on a curve and t

I've had a lot of trouble with those. In particular the knuckle is reluctant to latch. I will eventually replace all of them (there aren't many) with the ones I assemble myself. And then I will carefu

So true. Watching the cars bob back and forth in a train full of Kadees is disconcerting. G

For those of you with ESU decoders and Sergent couplers, you might want to consider adding the Automatic Coupler Function to your function list. It is described in section 12.5.7.2 of the Loksound man

Some time ago I posted a method for self centering narrow shank couplers in an Accumate box. Here is a similar method for standard shanks in a wide box. Other people have proposed different techniques

Well that is an interesting bit of knowledge that 99.999999% of the world's population is not aware of. :-) G

Spherical magnets would not allow movement by repulsion which is the only point of this exercise. The goal would be upward movement of the magnet through use of an electromagnet under the rails. G

Steve: Deepening the hole and using a longer magnet is the modification to the coupler that I was thinking would be required. I doubt that it would be possible let alone practical. The other George: T

A little while ago there was some discussion here of remote uncoupling for Sergents. Replacing the ball bearing with a magnetic cylinder was mentioned. This modification would allow an electromagnet u

Here's one more technique. This one is for increasing friction rather than self centering. I found that Kadee 209 fiber washers can be used as friction inducing shims in both the Accumate/narrow shank

Thanks for all the comments. Here's the picture for Bill et. al. I believe the shrink tubing that I am using is 1/16" that I probably got from Litchfield Station, although it should be available anywh