Tips - Kadee Couplers - A-C Evans Boxcars

Place the car upside down on a soft surface such a foam-lined cradle. Undo the screw (indicated with the red arrow) holding the Aristo-Craft coupler to the truck. Remove the coupler and set it aside.

Remove the screw (indicated with the red arrow) holding the truck to the frame. Remove the truck and fasten the washer and screw back on the frame so they do not get lost.

A Kadee 820 coupler will require a shim 1/4 of an inch thick in order to sit at the proper height above the rails on this car. This is measured with a Kadee coupler gauge as shown in fist photo at the top of the page.

The shim is 3/4 of an inch wide (the same width as the Kadee coupler box) by 2 and 1/16 inches long. That is the length from the truck bolster to the edge of the grid at the end of the car. The shim will be mounted in the area outlined in red.

The lip on the end of the car, indicated with the yellow arrow, is CENTERED 1 1/2 inches from the bolster. Therefore a slot 1/16 of an inch deep is required to be CENTERED 1 1/2 inches from the end of the shim.

After painting the shims with Krylon semi-flat black; a strip of thin, double-sided tape was applied from the slot to the back of the shim. Anther strip was used to fasten the cover of the coupler box to the bottom of the shim. The lip of the cover faces up and is flush with the front end of the shim.

I used slightly wider screws than those supplied by Kadee. I purchased small packs of number 4-40 screws and they fit perfectly in the holes of the coupler box. A screw 1/2 inch long is required for the front of the coupler, and 3/4 of an inch long for the rear.

Snap the coupler box on the cover. Place a 7/64 inch drill bit in a pin vice. Using the rear hole of the coupler box as a guide; drill right through the shim.

Place a 5/64 inch drill pit in a pin vice with only 1/2 inch of bit exposed. Using the front hole of the coupler box as a guide; drill a hole in the shim. The bit should not pass through the shim.

After removing the coupler box, not the cover, the shim should look like the photo.

Peal the backing off the double-sided tape. Butt the shim up against the bolster, make sure it is in the center of the car and stick it to the car frame. Extend the 5/64 inch drill bit and using in the rear hole coupler box as a guide; drill right through the floor of the frame.

Assemble the coupler in the box and snap it onto the cover. Place the 3/4 inch screw in the rear hole and while firmly holding the shim, thread it into the frame. Keep tightening it 1/4 of a turn at a time until the coupler no longer returns freely to its center position. Back the screw off 1/4 of a turn and test to ensure the coupler does return freely to its center position.

Place the 1/2 inch screw in the front hole and while firmly holding the shim, thread it into the shim. Keep tightening it 1/4 of a turn at a time until the coupler no longer returns freely to its center position. Back the screw off 1/4 of a turn and test to ensure the coupler does return freely to its center position.

Mount the truck, using the washer and screw in the frame, so the Aristo-Craft coupler mounting tang faces towards the center of the car as shown.

Using the Kadee coupler gauge on a straight and level piece of track, test to ensure the couplers are set to the proper height. If the couplers are high, check to ensure all the wheels are on the track. If the car is too low, take your hand of the roof.