MTH F3 PS3 Santa Fe rear coupler uncoupling on its own

@LT1Poncho posted:

My new MTH PS3 F3 Santa Fe has started uncoupling its rear coupler just today. Has run fine with the same consist for about a month. It seems to be uncoupling at the same spots on my layout but not every time around the loop. Something has to be triggering the uncoupling, but I have no clue what. I am controlling the loco with the DCS app as I always have. Nothing has changed. Any suggestions are appreciated as always!

LT1 , I'm assuming since the F3 is a ps3 that it is indeed equipped with an electrocoupler.    Using your app can you operate the coupler ?

Sometimes a video of your issue where the unwanted uncoupling is occuring can help a forum member give advice.

Hi the problem could be mechanical the coupler might not stay closes and need to be replaced! there not that expensive or the board could be causing the unlock condition!

Alan

Dallas: yes the coupler opens using the app or DCS remote. I will attempt to get a video today. It’s just odd that it seems to open at the same spots on the layout but not every time around.

Alan: the coupler seems to be mechanically sound. I have tugged on it and inspected the parts. I cannot cause the coupler to open unless I hit the uncouple function on the remote or app. This smells electrical to me.

Start simple, and don’t over think it yet,….how clean are the wheels and rollers?…sometimes dirty track, and or dirty locomotive can cause odd behaviors, ….when the coupler randomly opens, are you hearing the accompanying coupler sounds in the sound set?….also, when the coupler randomly opens, can you hear the slight coil buzz? ……look carefully for chafes and or nicks in the 2 coil wires going to the coupler,…….nothing more frustrating then tossing parts at something and the problem remains….

Pat

If you’re not hearing the coil buzz when it does randomly open, THEN suspect a mechanical fault of the coupler itself, and replace,….but do the due diligence and some very simple diagnostics,…..

Pat

The coupler on my new MTH F3 Santa Fe was bad out of the box. Patrick's Train quickly fixed it. There is a known issue with the couplers. For some couplers, the solution is lightly tapping on the knuckle with the back of a screwdriver (apparently breaking through some excess metal); other couplers just need replacing.

@Bruce Brown posted:

The coupler on my new MTH F3 Santa Fe was bad out of the box. Patrick's Train quickly fixed it. There is a known issue with the couplers. For some couplers, the solution is lightly tapping on the knuckle with the back of a screwdriver (apparently breaking through some excess metal); other couplers just need replacing.

Haven't had this problem yet but thanks for the heads up on the screwdriver trick Bruce. 

Bruce, I bought my F3 at Patricks so I may have to take it in. Thanks for the info

Harmonyard: there is no buzz when it opens

Loco is brand new so wheels etc are clean. Cleaned track this week so no issue there. No buzz on opening and all wires to coupler are in tact.

@LT1Poncho posted:

Harmonyard: there is no buzz when it opens

If you’re not hearing the distinctive buzz when your fault occurs, then it’s most likely not an electrical issue. When you purposely push the button on the remote, you should hear two things, the activation sound clip of the recorded coupler sounds, and a buzz from the coil. Be sure to turn the volume off or all the way down to verify what the buzz sounds like. If you’re not hearing the sounds, and the coupler still releases, then it’s a mechanical fault of the coupler, so replace. ….another note, It don’t matter how “ new “ a locomotive is, ….wheels still get dirty, & rollers still get carbon tracks……I see dozens of “ new “ locomotives every year with odd issues that a cleaning cures,…..just an FYI,…..

Pat

@LT1Poncho posted:

Bruce, I bought my F3 at Patricks so I may have to take it in. Thanks for the info

Patrick knows exactly how to fix quickly.