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Athearn RTR HO Scale Coupler Conversions

The perfect solution for all of your coupler woes. Thanks to our extensive list of HO Scale coupler conversions, it's easier than ever to fit Kadee® Couplers onto your locomotives and rolling stock. Our conversions typically require the least modification to your model, and the How-To Instructions and diagrams make fitting your new couplers a breeze. Remember to always check your coupler heights with our #206 Coupler Height Gauge. We've done the hard work for you, so find the perfect coupler in the list below.*

  Whisker® Metal Coupler Standard Coupler Other Coupler Options

Steam Locomotives with Factory Knuckle Couplers

Steam Locomotives with Factory Knuckle Couplers Conversion

#148

#5 (NO.5®)
#28, #58
or
#118, #119, #158

Old Time 2-6-0 Mogul Old Time 2-8-0 Consolidation Old Time 4-4-0

EMD CF7

#148

#5 (NO.5®)
#28, #58
or
#118, #119, #158

EMD F-7 “A” &”B”
 

#33
 

EMD F-59 PHI
 

#38

or

#36

w/ Plow

  

EMD GP 38-2

EMD GP 38-2 Conversion

#33

Both Ends

  

EMD GP 60M & 60B

#27

Both Ends

  

EMD SD-40-2

#148

#5 (NO.5®)
#28, #58
or
#118, #119, #158

Diesel Locomotives with Factory Knuckle Couplers

Diesel Locomotives with Factory Knuckle Couplers Conversion

#148

#5 (NO.5®)
#28, #58
or
#118, #119, #158

EMD GP 40X EMD GP 60M/B EMD SD-38 EMD SD-39 EMD SD-40 EMD SD-40T-2 EMD SD-45 EMD SD-45T-2 EMD SD-50 EMD SD-60 EMD SW1000 Switcher EMD SW1500 Switcher

Bombardier Coach

Bombardier Coach Conversion

#148

#5 (NO.5®)
#28, #58
or
#118, #119, #158

Caboose

Caboose Conversion

#148

#5 (NO.5®)
#28, #58
or
#118, #119, #158

Rolling Stock with Factory Knuckle Couplers

Rolling Stock with Factory Knuckle Couplers Conversion

#148

#5 (NO.5®)
#28, #58
or
#118, #119, #158

Auto Max Double Door Boxcar Express Boxcar Modern Boxcar Outside Braced Boxcar All Steel Single Door Variants Boxcar Superior Door Boxcar Youngstown Door Boxcar ACF Combo Door Boxcar Express Boxcar Evans Double Plug Door Boxcar FMC 5347 Railbox Boxcar FMC Combo Door Boxcar FMC Centered Double Door Boxcar FMC Offset Double Door Boxcar FMC Plug Door Boxcar NACC Boxcar PS 5277 Boxcar PS 5344 Boxcar FGE Superior Door Boxcar FGE Youngstown Door Boxcar Single Sheath Boxcar Berwick Boxcar FMC Boxcar Gunderson Boxcar ICC Boxcar ACF 2970 Covered Hopper FMC 4700 Covered Hopper PS 4740 Covered Hopper PS2 2600 Covered Hopper PS2 2893 Covered Hopper Trinity 3 Bay Covered Hopper 40' Derrick Flat Car 60' Flat Car 60' Bulkhead Flat Car 85' Flat Car 52' Mill Gondola 65'6" Mill Gondola Bathtub Gondola Bethgon Coalporter Gondola Thrall Gondola 56' Well Intermodal Maxi I Well Intermodal Maxi III Well Intermodal Husky Stack Well Intermodal 57' Trinity Spine Car Intermodal Ore Hopper 3 Bay Rib Side Hopper 3 Bay Offset Side Hopper Ballast Hopper Wood Chip Hopper 5-Bay Rapid Discharge Hopper Pfaudler Milk Car Pickle Car Ice Car PC&F R-70-20 Mechanical Derrick Car 250-Ton Crane with Tender Rotary Snow Plow 62' Tank Car 8,000 Gallon 30' NACC Tank Car 16,000 Gallon Clay Slurry Tank Car 20,900 Gallon RTC Tank Car 30,000 Gallon Ethanol Tank Car

Passenger Cars with Factory Knuckle Couplers

Passenger Cars with Factory Knuckle Couplers Conversion

#148

#5 (NO.5®)
#28, #58
or
#118, #119, #158

Bombardier Coach Cab-Coach 34' Overton Baggage Coach Observationr Railway Post Office (RPO) Passenger Set 50' Overland Baggage Coach Observation Railway Post Office (RPO) Passenger Set 60' Arch Roof Baggage Coach Diner Combine Observationr Railway Post Office (RPO) 70' Standard Business Coach Combine Railway Post Office (RPO) 85' Palace Sleeper Diner Combine Observation

Anywhere a NO.5® is listed, the #28, #58 or #118, #119, #120, #158, #148 Whisker® Coupler can be used in its place.

Newer models with factory-installed knuckle couplers are easily converted using our standard head #148 or scale head #158 Whisker® Couplers.
If you need a longer coupler, use the #146 or scale head #156 Whisker® Coupler.

Shallow cast-on gearbox fix: If you have a Kadee® Coupler that is not moving freely back and forth in a shallow cast-on gearbox. This is because some clone knuckle coupler manufacturers started molding shallow cast-on gearboxes on their models to fix the problems with their drooping clone knuckle couplers. The fix is a simple one. You have to file the top of the coupler shank a few strokes with a file, usually just enough to remove the black coloring to make the Kadee coupler function correctly in the non-standard shallow cast-on gearbox.

*Our conversions are based on only one model from a production run; there may be inconsistencies in a model’s production run that require a different coupler or model modifications to achieve the proper coupler height for coupler function.

** Metal Coupler Note: It is not recommended to use a metal coupler directly on a metal surface to avoid the possible electrical crossover or shorting that may cause damage.