Got to looking at the tender on this engine (Santa Fe 2552 ) and notice that a kadee centering spring will not fit without modification of the coupler box.
Anyone swapped out the plastic coupler for a Kadee no. 5 ?
Or is there a different model Kadee that will drop in on this tender. ???
On all Bachmann equipment you should use the Kagee #148. it has "whisker" springs similar to the EZ mate. The 148 may just drop in or you may have to file the shank just a little to make it thinner.
I have installed them on over a dozen Bachmann spectrum steam locos with little work.
Sheldon
Ah great' thanks for the info. are they metal or plastic?
AFAIK, all Kadees are metal.
Gene
Yes they are metal, with very fine little metal springs. While most Kadee's are metal, there are two types which are not.
The 20 series and 30 series shank/coupler body is a high impact plastic, but the knuckles are still metal. This is a much harder plastic than anything used by other manufacturers. These couplers are recommended by Kadee for metal framed equipment with metal coupler pockets to provide electrical insulation from the coupler.
I have used them and found them to be just as strong as regular kadee's
But again, the 148 is metal and works well in Bachmann and other coupler pockets that are too shallow for the #5.
Sheldon