Kadee office will be closed Christmas: Closed Dec. 20th through Dec 29th & New Year's: Open Dec 30th & 31st, closed Jan 1st
We will still be shipping orders during Christmas break.

Mehano 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

2-6-0 Mogul

2-6-0 Mogul (Mehano) Conversion
 
#148 Pilot
in a
#252 Gearbox

2-6-0 Mogul (Slovenia)

2-6-0 Mogul (Mehano - Slovenia) Conversion
 
#148 Pilot
in a
#252 Gearbox

2-8-0 Consolidation (Slovenia)

2-8-0 Consolidation (Mehano - Slovenia) Conversion
#149 Pilot
in a
#252 Gearbox

4-4-0 American

4-4-0 American (Mehano) Conversion
 
 

4-6-2 Pacific

4-6-2 Pacific (Mehano) Conversion
 
#148 Pilot
in a
#252 Gearbox

EMD E-8/9 A and B Units
(Slovenia)

EMD E-8/9 A and B Units (Mehano - Slovenia) Conversion
 
 

MDT Switcher

MDT Switcher (Mehano) Conversion
 
#141
in a
#252 Gearbox

Center Cab Switcher

Center Cab Switcher (Mehano) Conversion
 
 

Thunder Bolt Set SD-40 Loco

Thunder Bolt Set (Mehano) SD-40 Loco	 Conversion
 
 

Thunder Bolt Set Cars

Thunder Bolt Set Cars Conversion
 
 

Crane Car and Boom Tender

Crane Car and Boom Tender (Mehano) Conversion
 
 

(New) Old Time Freight Cars

(New) Old Time Freight Cars (Mehano) Conversion
#28, #58
or
#118, #119, #158

Passenger Car Truck
6 Wheel Die Cast Metal (After Market)

Passenger Car Truck, (Mehano) 6 Wheel Die Cast Metal (After Market) Conversion

 
 

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.