MTH engines uncouple from dummy units frequently! U 2 ?

[Smoke Stack Lightnin']

Does anyone else have this problem?  I have some MTH GP40 and AS-616 dummy units which frequently uncoulpe from the lead engine.  I use level tubular track, 072 curves, and this has never happened over a turnout.  It ususally happens with consists of 12 or more cars.  Doesn't matter which direction the dummy faces, or which direction the train travels.  It would seem the more weight to pull, the more likely to uncouple.  These engine/dummy consists are not teathered.  Oddly enough, my MTH teathered powered/dummy units don't have this problem.  Also, no problems of this nature with Lionel power/dummy units.

Thanks,

Stack

[ChiefEagles]

Yes!!!!!  Got MTH cars doing the same.  Running on Realtrax.  More weight and the couplers will not hold. 

[phillyreading]

Not sure if this will help but have you looked at the release lever, it might be coming open because it needs a small adjustment done to it.

Had problems with Williams dummy units uncoupling when they wanted to so I put a small plastic tie wrap over the coupler to keep it closed.

Lee F.

[USNRol]

Assuming the couplers are not electric... 

Yes I've seen this on a lionel PW coupler where the armature would "Work" down to the release of the coupler with steady tension and the normal jostling of the coupler as the train rolls down the track.  Problem was caused by a weak armature spring.  I'll try to find the thread where I explained my fix for this and put the link in here.

http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/993322/ShowPost.aspx

Lee's advice above, though unsightly, would work to fix the above issue.

Roland

[brianel027]

You might also try using a small black girl's hair rubber band instead of the twist-tie as Lee suggested. I've bought bags with a couple hundred girl's hair rubber bands at dollar stores. Not only do they work for troublesome couplers as described, but you can't see them on the coupler. And they make great loads for gondola's too.

As far as specifics on the coupler, it must be something related to the armature and the pin that inserts up into the knuckle. I don't have much MTH stuff so I can't comment on specifics there. But when I've had a ocassional problem like this with other makes of trains, I find making a small bend in the coupler armature usually will do the trick.

Or check to see the thickness of the pin that inserts into the knuckle: sometimes this needs a little bit of filing down so that it inserts completely into the knuckle. When K-Line first went to the all-metal coupler truck, the pin off the armature that inserts into the knuckle was too thick to make good contact. I file down the thickness of the pin on the inside facing the car and this works.

[phillyreading]

Brianel027,

I had the same problem on some of my K-Line cars and what I did was to change the pin that held the coupler closed to a Lionel pin assembly, not changeing out the truck.

Have also used miniture black plastic tie down straps on the unpowered unit's knuckle couplers, you don't notice them as easy.  True it can be unsightly but it prevents accidents like rear ending the caboose or other cars on the train.

Lee F.

[brianel027]

Hi Lee, no I didn't change the truck, if that's what you meant. On the first run K-Line sprung die-cast trucks that were all metal, I just filed down the coupler pin at the end of the armature. The trucks used on the Train-19 cars are a far improvement over anything else K-Line  ever used.

I've also replaced the knuckles on plastic K-Line trucks with a Lionel knuckle and holing pin... the K-Line pin is thicker than the Lionel one and won't fit into the Lionel knuckle. I have good luck doing this when the K-Line plastic trucks don't work well.

Try the small black rubber band Lee. Works nicer than a twist tie as it still allows you to operate the truck coupler using the thumbtack lever. I have mixed results over an U/C track. Like I said, they also make a great looking load for gondolas so it's a "two-birds with one rock" kind of fix.

[ChiefEagles]

Gang, back in the 70's/80's my oldest daughter was in braces and the retainers.  The little rubber bands used with them will just streach over the coupler and yet will still let it open.  Don't have any now.  Need to run by dentist ofc up the street and try to get some.  Lee, have not thought of tie wraps.

[brianel027]

Yes Cheif, I remember those little rubber bands used by orthadonists, But they're the same color as regular rubber bands. You can find bags of anywhere from 200 to 500 black ones for little girls hair at a dollar store, where they keep the brushes, combs and other hair supplies. They're the same size as those ones the dentists use. Years ago I bought a load of bags with 500 in each bag. Not that you'll really nice a small yellow rubber band over a coupler, but the black ones don't show at all.... they blend right in.

Plus I've used the black rubber bands to imitate metal strapping on cubes of wood made up to be crates, or to hold loads of black drinking straws as secured pipe loads, or again to hold a bunch of sawed-end popsicle sticks (with ends then painted red) to look like a strapped load of lumber.

Man, there's so much you can do in this hobby that is both creative and doesn't cost you an arm and a leg.

Also the larger soft fabric hair bands work great for securing loads on to flat cars, and you can find those in both black and brown. Over time they do stretch out a bit, but they're not that costly to make replacing them hard.

[ChiefEagles]

Assuming the couplers are not electric... 

Yes I've seen this on a lionel PW coupler where the armature would "Work" down to the release of the coupler with steady tension and the normal jostling of the coupler as the train rolls down the track.  Problem was caused by a weak armature spring.  I'll try to find the thread where I explained my fix for this and put the link in here.

http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/993322/ShowPost.aspx

Lee's advice above, though unsightly, would work to fix the above issue.

Roland

Just got to read the post that was linked.  Great idea.

[Smoke Stack Lightnin']

I like the black hair tie idea, what erks is the need to have to do this.  They (MTH) can make an engine that talks, but not stay coupled?  I'll give em' a call to see what they have to say.  If it were one dummy unit with coupler failure, hey, s**t happens.  But when it happens routinely with 4 units, sounds like a design problem.  How much anyone want to bet when I call tech support with this, the reply will be "this is the first we've heard of this"?  Knock on wood, but I'm glad (to date) no coupler failture with my Lionel units.  Off to Wally World's curl up and dye department.

Thanks for your input!

Stack