I have two of these, the coil(does anyone remember Cylde?) couplers open on their own if placed in front of any more then a few cars.
Anyone else have this issue? Ideas on solutions?
Thanks.
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I had one of these. If you turn the car over, you see that the slide moves back and forth. I found that the one the on open coupler didn’t spring firmly back into position because the shaft was slightly bent. What should have be a relatively easy job turn into major surgery. The tab for the magnetic uncoupling makes it impossible to get at the slide. I removed the 4 tiny brass rivits that hold the uncoupling piece in place. Once that was out of the way, the repair was easy. I never put it back. The coupler works fine now.
Hi Dan,
my issue is with the other end of the car, with the electrocoupler.
Chris,
A couple of our club members have these cars and have the exact same problem but it doesn't occur all the time. As you said, when we run long trains, the electro couplers pop open more often when there are more cars behind the vision reefer. They tried turning the cars end for end and putting the cars in a different location within the train so there's not as many cars behind the problem reefer and it doesn't matter-the electro coupler randomly pops open, just not as much. Short of replacing the electro coupler, I don't know what else can be done. Maybe one of the electronics guys here will have an idea.
Nick
Sometimes the differential between the two trucks causes an electrocoupler to fire on some layouts. I have fixed many a product by soldering a wire to each truck frame so they are bonded. I scrape off a little paint on the frame, solder a wire, route it up thru the car to the other truck and attach the same way.
jon
Sorry, Chris, I misread your post.
Can you tell whether the coupler is opening electrically or mechanically? If it is electrical you could try to track it down. While mechanical issues can be corrected, it is time consuming and you will need spare knuckle rivets and springs. You will need to file the parts smooth so the parts slide by each other and lock properly. As a cheap fix, try a little graphite; it won’t hurt and it might be enough for the pin to lock.
Ultimately, replacing the coupler is the easiest route.
I fixed mine with super glue. Open one time it gets glued shur. Sometimes l just glue them shut whum l take them out of the box. Same on engines. I wish they were all dummy couplers.
I use Loctite blue on these couplers. If you want them to open again just work them open with your fingers or use some fingernail polish remover and they will open again. It works for me.
