Failing Couplers on Lionel Husky Stack Car

NSPhil posted:

Hello All,

I own 7 of Lionel's Standard O Husky Stack cars and I have only 1 TTX car where the coupler keeps coming apart during operation.  As mentioned, the problem seems to be confined to just the one car, and I have already tried replacing both trucks.  One seems to be working great, but the other is having the same issue.  I'm running with a few 0-45 curves so unfortunately need to use couplers long enough for these cars. 

Any advice/solutions much appreciated! Enjoy  your Saturday!!!

Did you find a solution ?  Replacement parts ? I have the same problem.

Wow, this is an old thread. Does anyone have an answer for this? Does anyone know what causes them to fail? I have two cars with this problem, and one of them is nearly new.

Bringing back an old topic, which was brought back once before, because I am having the same issue with some of my Lionel Husky Stack couplers.  Of six cars, three have issues with the couplers staying closed.  You can hear a slight click when closing the coupler, but it will open with only a very slight force.

Before I glue them shut, I'm hoping there is a solution to fix them.  Seems since Feb 2016 someone should have looked at this.  Any way to fix these very weak couplers?

I would think the electro coupler solution would also work here. Do a search. You’ll need a new rivet and a file.

I've had this occur on a few of my husky stacks also. There are 2 small rivets that hold the coupler shaft to the swivel mount. They seem to be the weak link. Once both break off the shaft is free to slide back and forth and will uncouple. I've replaced 4 trucks so far. Be careful hitting these too hard with your locos when hooking up.

As the repair tech at our LHS, I have had several of these cars exhibiting this issue. The problem was traced to a zinc pest induced axial elongation of the coupler arm which caused disengagement of the coupler knuckle. Basically, the coupler arm grows in length slightly and a the knuckle pops open and stays that way. Sometimes you will see tell-tale alligator type cracking and flexural warping too. There is no repair that can realistically be made except for replacement of the trucks. 

I've found ours exhibit this because the uncoupling link cannot go far enough to prevent the knuckle from opening and have had top painstakingly file the surface that it returns and rests against.

CAPPilot posted:

Bringing back an old topic, which was brought back once before, because I am having the same issue with some of my Lionel Husky Stack couplers.  Of six cars, three have issues with the couplers staying closed.  You can hear a slight click when closing the coupler, but it will open with only a very slight force.

Before I glue them shut, I'm hoping there is a solution to fix them.  Seems since Feb 2016 someone should have looked at this.  Any way to fix these very weak couplers?

Ron I'd guess no one cared, surely not the person responsible for the design and quality check. Kind of like the aluminum cars with the "Flush Fitting" windows  And now they have that plastic thumb tack truck...

I glued mine shut, and ordered replacement wheel sets from Lionel to replace them.

Sorry to ask this after so much time, but what is the model number of the Husky Stack you have and the number for the replacement wheel sets? I have a 6-27528 Coe Rail model, and Lionel's product division says the wheel set (not available now at Lionel) is cs-6207413050-p SCALE TRK / 70T W/ ROT CAP / NO COLL (CPLR 2.20"). Thanks --

I can get the number for you for what I used when I get home in a few hours. I used trucks from a box car if I remember correctly which worked perfectly.

Phil - I dropped the ball. Here is the number of the trucks i used as a replacement on my husky-stacks.

Sorry for the delay.