SUNSET - 3rd RAIL COUPLER ISSUE

Replace it with a Kadee 740 coupler

You can try to file the opening so its a tad bigger, and add a drop of oil to the pivot points.

3rd Rail products often are off the beam in areas like this. Low-volume

manufacturers really fill a need when it comes to the less-mainstream prototype products, but some of the basics just don't get well-served by "handmade" (they are not really handmade couplers, but you get the idea) items. My 3rd Rail brass boxcar's trucks and couplers turned to dust very quickly; replaced by modern-design Lionels.

 

I have found that a dab of silicone on the "tongue" of the offending unit that the other coupler uses to push the coupler closed will simply give the other coupler more "reach"

to complete the operation, can help. Leave a little silicone "knob" on the face of the

tongue.

 

Check that your armature pin is not bent.

Dry lubricant can help.

 

The Williams brass cars' couplers from the 90's can be awkward, too. Not always.

 

 

 

Ditto, but a 6-dome Roma Wine tank car I bought in an auction.

 

I'm not sure how much more production of freight cars Scott Mann will be doing.  Lately it seems his focus has been on locomotives of all types and the GGD passenger car series....and that's a fine niche for him to be serving!!

 

However, should he consider another production run of freight cars, it might be a prudent choice to do as many brass producers did about 40-50 years ago....sell them without trucks or couplers....period.  Better yet, the 'O3R' version could have a truck attachment accommodation for a particular quality die cast truck/coupler made by Lionel, MTH, Atlas, Weaver,  Kadee, et al.  The 'O2R' version, likewise.

 

I've been building several of the old All Nation, Quality Craft, Ambroid, Athearn, et al, kits of late.  They're all for my O3R use.  I tend to favor the Weaver, Atlas, and MTH trucks/couplers.  They're all very quality products, very reliable, good looking.  Each one, however, requires a little different bolster/attachment arrangement.  (The Lionel trucks are quite a bit more of a challenge to attach to those old wooden/metal cars....IMHO.)

 

I should think Scott could make an arrangement with most any of those truck-guys to manufacture his cars to receive a particular....and available!!...truck/coupler.  That way cars and trucks could both arrive in the U.S. from their quality, high-volume sources, and we could simply complete the purchases and assembly ourselves.

 

Just a thought.

 

KD