Sergent Engineering compatible shank couplers feature a shank that allows them to be a drop-in upgrades for the traditional knuckle couplers included on most HO scale cars and locomotives.
The most common type E coupler is available in both assembled and kit form. The assembled couplers are handy if you would rather spend your modeling time doing something other than assembling couplers. The kit version is easy to assemble and a bit less expensive. Some customers report that the kit couplers they assemble operate more smoothy than our factory assembled versions.
Shelf E and F couplers are currently available in assembled form only.
| Picture | Part # | Description | Price | Status | Buy Now |
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EC87A | 4 Assembled Die Cast AAR Type E Couplers with compatible shank | $7.00 | Stock Item |
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| EC87K | 6 Easy-to-Assemble Die Cast AAR Type E Couplers with compatible shank | $7.00 | Stock Item |
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| EC87KB | 144 Easy-to-Assemble Die Cast AAR Type E Couplers with compatible shank | $84.00 | Stock Item |
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SBEC87A | 4 Assembled Lower Shelf E Couplers with compatible shank (1968-current) | $10.00 | Out of Stock |
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| SBEC87K | 6 Easy-to-Assemble Lower Shelf E Couplers with compatible shank (1968-current). See instructions here | $10.00 | Out of Stock |
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SEC87A | 4 Assembled Double Shelf Type SE Couplers with compatible shank (1975-current) | $13.00 | Out of Stock |
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| SEC87K | 6 Easy-to-Assemble Double Shelf SE Couplers with compatible shank (1975-current). See instructions here | $13.00 | Out of Stock |
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FC87A | 4 Assembled Type F Couplers with compatible shank (1954-current) | $13.00 | Out of Stock |
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| FC87K | 6 Easy-to-Assemble Type F Couplers with compatible shank (1954-current). See instructions here | $13.00 | Out of Stock |
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SFC87A | 4 Assembled Type SF Couplers with compatible shank (1975-current) | $13.00 | Out of Stock |
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HC87A | 4 Assembled Type H Couplers with compatible shank (1940-current). Be sure to check out our tailor made tightlock couplers for Walthers passenger cars | $13.00 | Out of Stock |
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An MS uncoupling wand is required to operate the couplers.
This wand is simply a custom made industrial strength magnetic rod which lifts the
internal steel
ball in the coupler allowing it to open. The wand has a wire attached to one end aid
in aligning couplers in preparation for a tie as well. We don't recommend
building your own uncoupling wand from magnets you may have lying around. Customers
who have tried this have reported less than satisfactory results. A magnet that is too
strong will prevent the couplers from later locking after uncoupling. A magnet that is too
weak won't unlock the couplers reliably.
Click here to see how to use the uncoupling wand.
| Part # | Description | Price | Status | Buy Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MS | Local Uncoupling Tool | $6.00 | Stock Item |
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The MWRY uncoupler is provided specically for uncoupling passenger cars that have diaphrams prototypically positioned
above the couplers. The plain side of the uncoupler slips in from the side between the top of the couplers and the bottom
of the diaphrams. The round end of the tool can be used to open knuckles in preparation for coupling. The predecessor to
this tool was actually designed by long time Sergent Engineering customer Larry Mowery.
| Part # | Description | Price | Status | Buy Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MWRY | Passenger Car Uncoupling Tool | $9.00 | Stock Item |
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Type E couplers are pretty forgiving as far a coupler height goes. Tightlock couplers
(type F and H) are not. This Sergent Engineering coupler height gauge is a go/no-go type
gauge so there is no need to guess whether or not coupler height is close enough. If the
knuckle slips into the groove on the gauge, you are good to go. Limits for the gauge are
of course based on the 32.5" to 34.5" prototype limits. The gauge is cast in tooling resin
so dimensions won't creep over time.
| Part # | Description | Price | Status | Buy Now |
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| HG87 | Coupler Height Gauge | $5.00 | Stock Item |
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If you plan to assemble lots of EC87K kits, you'll want an AFC Assembly Fixture. This
fixture is used to hold
the coupler together as it is assembled. The AFC is also very handy for holding the
coupler if it becomes necessary to thin the shank of the coupler for certain
installations. Shelf couplers other than the SBEC87 don't fit this fixture. An
additional fixture for those couplers will be available when kits are offered for those
couplers.
| Part # | Description | Price | Status | Buy Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AFC | Precision Cast EC87K Assembly Fixture | $8.00 | Stock Item |
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The diameter of the mounting hole in Sergent Engineering compatible shank couplers
is smaller than that used by other manufacturers. This allows the Sergent couplers to fit
more snuggly with less slop in most rolling stock. Unfortunately, some thoughtful
manufacturers of rolling stock decided to address this problem for themselves, and they
provide an oversize mounting post. The result is that the mounting hole in the compatible
shank Sergent Engineering couplers must opened up slightly to fit. Although this can be
done with care and an appropriately sized drill bit, the RM20 tapered reamer is a better tool
for this job because it doesn't bite into the metal as it works.
The reamer comes with what resembles a large pin vise to spin it. This is actually a tap handle with the tee bar removed to lessen the temptation to muscle the reamer though. The reamer is sharp! Be careful with it and work slowly.
| Part # | Description | Price | Status | Buy Now |
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| RM20 | Compatible Shank Reamer | $18.00 | Stock Item |
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You'll probably want a couple of extra ball and spring packets, too. Even though Sergent Engineering will gladly replace these small parts at no charge if they happen to get lost during assembly, you might want them more quickly than we can send replacements. These are cheap and nice to have on hand.
| Part # | Description | Price | Status | Buy Now |
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| BP87 | Spare Ball Bearing and Spring Pack | $1.00 | Stock Item |
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Couplers that have the cut lever attached on top are referred to
as "top operating" Couplers that have the cut lever attached at the bottom
are referred to as "bottom operating". The type E coupler
modeled by the EC87 was always available as a bottom operating coupler,
even though the top operating version seems to have been preferred initially.
Sergent Engineering offers two items to assist the modeler in adding these special
details.
The BCL87 contains 10 etched brass cut lever linkages. These linkages fit into slots on the bottom of the coupler as shown in the picture. These brass etchings fit the E, SBE, and SE style couplers. The cut levers (not included) should be inserted through this linkage in a manner that allows the coupler to swing from side to side.
Type F couplers are almost always bottom operated and the linkage is mostly hidden by the coupler casting. A "J" shaped small diameter wire can be used to simulate the linkage for these couplers. The Sergent Engineering type F coupler head provides a shallow locating hole for this wire.
For those that desire to model top operating type E couplers, Sergent Engineering offers drilled top coupler castings which will accept lift rings. This option should be ordered at the same time coupler kits are ordered. Lift rings should be installed prior to assembly of the couplers since there is a risk that glue used to attach the rings may also make its way to the locking ball inside the coupler. For this reason, the drilled tops are only an option for kits - not assembled couplers.
Holes in top castings are created with a #80 drill. We recommend either bending your own eyebolts from 0.010" wire or using Grandt Line #5085 eyebolts (or #86085 if you would rather have the equivalent in brass) for this application.
| Part # | Description | Price | Status | Buy Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BCL87 | 10 Etched Cut Lever Linkages for Type E Couplers | $2.00 | Stock Item |
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| DRLEC | Drilled Top Option for one pkg EC87K | $1.00 | Add 1 week for delivery |
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