If you thought Chief's question was dumb!!!

[Anonymous]

Okay All Here Goes: What is the best way to store Rolling stock, Loco's, Engines of any Manufacture or Era, With the couplers open or closed ??????? Kind Regards Steve[?][%-)]

[Anonymous]

If they are the cheap delrin knuckles with cast on spring, you would definately want to leave them open. When they are closed they develop a memory and do not work.
With the steel spring I;m not sure but would guess open.
Dave.

[csxt30]

Oh, you know, I never knew that & now I wonder about the coil couplers, if you should leave them stored open or closed. Well, my thought is it doesn't matter, but don't really know. Thanks, John

[ben10ben]

Definitely open.

The postwar cars you find today with dead couplers are the result of 20, 30, 40, or even more years of being stored with the knuckles closed and spring compressed. The springs will either break or set in the closed position, and the coupler won't open.

Of course, for you more prototypical types out there, you're better off with a broken spring, as real couplers don't spring open when the pin is pulled.

[csxt30]

Just a small reference to the real couplers on rail cars, they really are supposed to pop open when you lift the cutting lever. Though most don't, due to worn parts in the coupler. In fact I replace those parts with new ones all the time & can't always get them to open like they should. I see conductors try to pull the knuckle open a little more even when it's open all the way, just out of habit, as they're so used to them working improperly. Thanks, John

[Buckeye Riveter]

John, isn't that why you carry a hammer to beat on the couplers?

(BTW, this was a very good question. Much better than the Chief's question about dust. [:D] )

[csxt30]

Buckeye" Yes, the hammer is our most used tool !! Then the sledge hammer & torch!!! [:D] Thanks, John

[ChiefEagles]

Open. Have some that got closed during storage for 20 years and do not like to open. I do use a little synthetic oil [Slick 50 One Lube] and that helps. Now for answers from Ohio, ignore them as that is the USA's dumping ground for the mentally ill. [;)] BTW, if so dumb, why so many good answers. [:p]

[Jim Duda]

QUOTE: Now for answers from Ohio, ignore them as that is the USA's dumping ground for the mentally ill. - Chief

Uh - Oh...better fortify those Ohio borders! Chiefie sounds like he's about ready to rope, pillage, attack, and reclaim the Buckeye State! (wink)

[laz 57]

The CHIEF doesn't ask dumb questions, we just amuse him with supior smart NAWRTHERN answers.
laz57

[choochin3]

Without a doubt LEAVE THEM OPEN !
A few years ago I had to store all my train stuff in one of those public storage places Winter time,freezing cold,and no heat in there.
Long story short, now I have to replace all the plastic knuckles, ALL of them!
Anyone have a way to affix the new rivets?

Cheers,
Carl T.

[Dave Farquhar]

QUOTE: Originally posted by choochin3
Anyone have a way to affix the new rivets?

Yeah, that big hammer that John's carrying around. [:)]

Actually several of the train repair joints sell a tool for setting rivets. They work even better if you have a drill press.

[tgovebaker]

This whole North-South thing is so quaint.

Like the song says, "Cal-i-forn-i-ya is where you oughta be..."

Now play nice. That silly little Civil War/War of Nothern Aggression has been over for some time now.

[ChiefEagles]

tgovebaker, WE LOVE IT. The war is never over. Funny how we do that and call each other and laugh. [;)] We've even got a Rebel Pastor on here. Thinkour biggest fight is over sweet ice tea and grits. Now you left bankers, who can marry who[?] [8D] Hope the sun shines and the rains go away for yuz giz [Yankee]. You all have had enough. Still store them with the couplers open.

[Dr. John]

tgovebaker-
Over? OVER?!?! [:O] Why suh, the war of Nawthun aggression will not be over 'til every last Yankee is eatin' corn bread without sugar, sippin' sweet iced tea and puttin' lots of salt and butter in their grits! Then we can begin to forget that unfortunate business! [;)]

As to Cal-i-for-ny, it's a beautiful place - at least until it slides off into the Pacific Ocean! [8D]

Sorry, I was a bit [#offtopic][#oops]

[Anonymous]

It's all in good fun, and not taken literally or anything.

Besides it's kinda fun letting them Rebs make-believe that the south will rise again.....LOL

Martok

PS: Martok cuts the rope on the catapult and flings some rotten coleslaw south of the mason-dixon line.....LOL

[lionelsoni]

I doubt that it matters whether metal-spring couplers are open or closed. The springs that I have replaced were all either rusted through or had completely lost their temper from conducting a fault current between the knuckle and the drawbar.

[Anonymous]

You can't go wrong if you store 'em all in the open position. You can go wrong with some items if you store them for long periods with the couplers closed.

[underworld]

Jim Duda We have our defenses well set for Chief!!!!! [:p]

ChiefEaglesDo you mean sugar in the tea and honey on the grits???[:p]

underworld

[:D][:D][:D][:D][:D]

[lionelsoni]

I had a discussion and experiment with a locomotive engineer over the weekend about prototype couplers' popping open like the models. He confirmed my understanding that they didn't. However, the experimentation revealed that there is a cam inside the coupler whose function appears to be to pu***he knuckle open just a little, enough so that the pin will not drop back in. I imagine that, with considerable grease in place, it could kick the knuckle open wider.