@Gary Liebisch posted:I don't mean to hijack this thread, but since it covers subways, I thought I'd ask this question here: MTH Lo-V subways 30-2447-1. Is it common for all of the couplers on this set to randomly uncouple (due to a weak coupler spring)? Not a problem on any of my Lionel freight cars, but frequent just on this set. Bought the set used , so no history.
Hello Gary --
NO, you are not hijacking this thread at all ! Well, I converted my MTH Low-V's (including motor trucks) with scale sized insulated wheels for 2 rail operation. Doing so I make new "unpowered" (ie: trailing) trucks using the MTH metal sideframes (which I ground down and reshaped the bottom portions of, on a large motorized grinding wheel to more scale dimensions) screwed to brass cross bolsters I fabricated to complete the truck. This made my Low V "trailing" cars 75% lighter than original MTH bodies. In the conversion I created and used my own self-built type close coupling manual more scale sized couplers. I use ONE MTH Motor truck with steel scale sized 33" wheels, installed in the rear of the train's first car. That car tows FOUR coupled trailing cars easily creating a 5 car train, and with no need for rubber "traction" tires either, NOR two motor trucks in the first car !! And running on scale profile and sized rail 2 rail track.
Those super heavy solid block metal steel truck chassis on the trailing cars create excessive weight. Those same blocks used for the 2 power trucks used on the Motorized (ie: "locomotive") car are OK so to give tractive pulling effort weight but ARE NOT NEEDED on non-powered trailing cars. If you are running 6 cars (5 cars towed by one power car) - that could be part of the problem...especially if you have up and down grades on your layout That is a lot of weight on the couplers.... especially those on the first few cars of the train. Especially if they have weak springs. Notice that on any other (Lionel or MTH) passenger cars the trucks are made more conventional to prototype. Same goers for freight cars. And THOSE cars are lighter than MTH Subway cars. Just my thoughts.
To understand, MTH never used the same truck block from one of their small diesel locomotives 4 wheel powered trucks -- on their unpowered trailing mainline R.R. passenger cars ! But they did that on the subway unpowered trailing car sets. Don't know WHY !!??
Either (1) - replace any coupler-hand springs, (2) - get new couplers, or (3) - glue the coupler hands in solid shut position (like a solid non operating coupler) so they will not open at all.
Here BELOW are photos of my MTH Low-V truck conversions from 3 rail to 2 rail scale
BELOW- Top View of reworked and converted MTH Low-V Truck (and not repainted yet)
BELOW- Bottom View of reworked and converted MTH Low-V Truck (and not repainted yet)
with a GOO applied 1/4" thick wood slab for stiffing the brass bolster plate
BELOW - Side view of completed, assembled 2 rail scale wheels truck with "trimmed down" MTH
Low V Sideframes to proper scale proportions - seen not yet repainted. Brass 3rd rail paddle shoes will be added
before painting
BELOW - at left, MTH Low-V with MTH Truck reworked and repainted, and my own scale size working
"radial swing" body mounted coupler. Car sits lower and more prototype to rail heads. Compare with
original factory-condition MTH Low-V Car and truck at right
BELOW - closeup of MTH fully reworked, repainted, scaled down to proper size-proportions, to be an
IRT type Commonwealth Motor style Truck, with a scale brass paddle-type 3rd rail shoe added
BELOW -- original MTH Low-V at left and its massive heavy unpowered trailing type truck and
huge coupler, and at right, my scale sized wheels, 2 Rail converted MTH Truck at right and my
body-mounted radial swing manual coupling coupler. My Car sits at proper scale height from track rails .
regards - Joe F
