Help with lionel Pennysylvania Flyer Boxcar coupler

[Anonymous]

with The Pennsylvania Flyer i just bought,there was a boxcar that came with it.One side of it,the coupler always comes un coupled,even if i lock it.Please help me!

[GregM]

Couple of thoughts.

First, you could try using a black twist tie to tie the coupler shut. Maybe even a small piece of electrical tape wrapped around the coupler shaft.

Second, if the truck is attached to the car with a short expandable plug changing the truck would be quite simple. Unfortunately, I imagine the truck is riveted to the car which would make this a little more difficult. I have a few plastic trucks that I have removed from cars when I installed die cast trucks. I could send you a couple but you would have to install them.

[brianel027]

The quickest fix is a small black rubber band from a girl's bag of hair rubber bands. I've seen these at dollar stores, 300-500 quantity for $1. They also make really cool looking loads for gondolas. You won't even see the small black rubber band on the coupler. Problem is, it won't open as freely anymore.

There are two other things you can do snell, if you feel confident enough. First one is to take a needle nose pair of pliers and gently compress the rivet the holds the knuckle in the coupler. This might work, but it could also make the coupler not open at all.

The second thing you can do and this works for me - is to first remove the outside wheel closest to the coupler. Then using a small screwdriver, gently prod the coupler thumbtack assembly out of the coupler. Using a neednose pair of pliers, hold this above a burner on your stove.... THERE IS AN ART TO THIS.... you don't want to melt the whole thing and ruin it.

What you want to do is warm the outside end of the assembly up (the side with the plastic pin that goes into and holds the knuckle closed) and give that outside end a slight bend upward. Then cool it off right away. Giving it a slight bend upward will help that plastic pin make good contact with the knuckle.

A hair blowdrier might also work doing this, but I haven't tried it. I've gotten very good with the stove method. It works for me everytime. But I also make dimples in light bulbs over the stove too, so I've had some practice.

It's probably a good idea if you are getting into trains, to have a few spares of that coupler armature assembly from Lionel. Sometimes you can remove one from one car and switch it with another and have them both work.

I have a bunch of these assembly's in my parts drawer that I've had for years and am glad I do. Sometimes pulling one off and switching it with another one is all it takes. But I'll also note there are some slight variations in this part between the current Lionel ones, and older Lionel MPC versions and yet another version for K-Line. They all look practically identical... it's not until you try inserting them that you notice the difference.

[ben10ben]

This set should have the newer die-cast trucks that are secured with screws. If that's the case, replacing it with a new one from Lionel shouldn't be any trouble. Spread the body right under the doors, and the frame should fall out. You then have easy acess to work on it.

As an alternative to having to order a replacement from Lionel, most hobby shops will carry die-cast sprung trucks for $12 or so a pair. These are much higher quality than the standard trucks, and should fit right on in place of the old ones.