The coupler height was a problem this time. Couplers match between Menards pieces, but not when connecting to Williams or Lionel.
Menards is WAY below the NMRA standard on their flatcar and the F Unit. Almost 25% of the distance. 1/16” or maybe 1/8” discrepancy could be accommodated with a 3/8” knuckle, but not almost 3/16” below standard.
(Coupler knuckles are 0.36” on Menards and Lionel. Add 1/2 of knuckle (0.18”) to the center-of-knuckle NMRA standard height (11/16” or 0.6875) and you get the top of rail to top of knuckle target height of 0.8675”.
I’m thinking when Menards launched their product line they misread or misunderstood the Standard, and set the Top of the knuckles to 11/16” instead of the Center of the knuckles, and haven’t corrected it. Half a knuckle height across the line of products is a really big miss that has persisted for years now - makes me wonder how committed Menards truly is to making improvements.
Post war Lionel Sunoco tanker:
Williams boxcar:
Measurement technique- caliper from top of center rail to top of coupler:
Menards F Unit:
Lionel Post-War Sunoco:
Williams boxcars:
Menards flatcar:
OOPS video:
Also, none of the Menards couplers released over the uncoupling track. Williams boxcar has no issues.
Doesn’t open even when idling over the electromagnet.
