Problem with Lionel operating hopper cars

[southernrr]

I am having a problem with the plastic plunger (on the couplers) activating on my Lionel 6-19885 operating hopper cars and was wondering if switching to a diecast version would help or is there anything I could try before expending the money to replace the truck assembly....  any experience with this and how you went about solving the problem?

 

Thanks,

 

Gene Dickerson

TCA

 

[tinplatacis]

Well, is the problem that the couplers will not activate with the operating track section? If so, then I would add a small, horseshoe shaped piece of steel to the back of it so as to attract the section. Otherwise, I would swap them out with the plunger assembly from the 6177 hopper.

[southernrr]

Yes, the electromagnets are not pulling down the plastic plunger. I will try your suggestion to see if that solves the issue. I'm puzzled as to why Lionel decided to go with plastic versus a diecast version in the first place.

[cwburfle]

Are you trying to use a Modern Era operating hopper with a postwar ramp? Some of the Modern era hoppers will not uncouple from the rest of the train because the plunger does not line up with the electromagnet on the postwar ramp. I solved the problem on my hopper by replacing the modern era trucks with postwar metal trucks.

[southernrr]

CW, I have the modern version of the coal ramp.

[cwburfle]

I'd still check to see whether the uncoupling electromagnet is lined up with the uncoupling plunger on the car you are trying to use. Different style trucks have the plunger in different spots.

[southernrr]

Thanks for the suggestion, I will check it out.

[tinplatacis]

The plastic version may have been intended not to operate. I heard that there was a production run of a non operating hopper done with an operating hopper with glued doors, this might be the reason, is that someone finished the job of making it an operating car with the old manumatic couplers in place still.