MTH Diesel SD70 Ace Coupler and uncoupler

[Train Modeler]

BigBlueConrail

With regard to the low hanging coupler, Ive seen that most early run MTH Sd70s have this issue. My Sd70 from late 2010 is fine but the one I have from late 2009 has the coupler too low on the rear.

That's good to know.  Mine worked just fine with any mating coupler, but was a little low.    When I get a chance I've got to get it raised.

Richard

[BigBlueConrail]

With regard to the low hanging coupler, Ive seen that most early run MTH Sd70s have this issue. My Sd70 from late 2010 is fine but the one I have from late 2009 has the coupler too low on the rear.

[EDZ]

CJA

I'm having serious difficulties in correctly performing the coupling of the Ace of MTH SD70 locomotives.
If I use low speed, in most cases does not close the coupling.
If I use high speed, which is not appropriate in most cases does not close the coupling.
I wonder if there is some additional information to effect the closing of the couplings correctly.

Thanks to all
Claudio José Alves

Here's your solution.  It's a free fix that requires nothing but guts and pliers, lol.

WARNING:  Some FOUL LANGUAGE is on this video!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=niLXNmjRn6Y&feature=more_related

[Hamltnblue]

Welcome to the forums Jimho

The thread has been dead for a bout 6 months now. Motley will probably answer but if you hit the start conversation link on the bottom right of the post you'll have a better chance of getting his attention.

[JimHO]

Motley,

Have you heard anything about the "too low" coupler?    I just bought one of these locomotives and it has the same problem.  I put a Kadee #5 and that resolved it for now, but wondering if there is a "fix" yet?

Jim

[CJA]

Dave
Thanks for sending the video link, I saw and found interesting, but as I live in Brazil and here we have no facility to buy sundry couplings, we have to import everything. I'm not going to risk breaking the part of the coupler to facilitate even have a spare.
Grateful for the attention and always send your videos.
Claudio

[dave hikel]

Hi all,

I own 2 of the SD70ACe's and 2 of the new Little Joe electrics with the operating couplers and have done a lot of work and research to figure out how to get the most from them.  Here's a couple youtube videos that shows the results:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqgE-7kPot0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-cwr3Ch7MjA

In both videos the mating freight car is outfitted with a Kadee or McHenry "scale" coupler.  This makes a HUGE difference.  The MTH protocoupler is very dependent on the shape of the mating coupler to close the knuckle.  McHenry and Kadee scale couplers (such as the #58 - my favs) work very well.  After making a simple mod to the stock coupler (more on that later), I can reliably couple to a single NMRA weighted freight car at 2 smph.   Kadee #5's do work, but must hit at around 8 smph for reliable coupling.  Walthers couplers work at around 10 smph.  Atlas couplers will couple at speeds above 15 smph, but it was never reliable.

The mod I came up with is very simple to perform.  There is a fine wire spring that forces the coupler knuckle open when triggered.  The spring is relatively stiff to ensure the coupler knuckle will open and remain open when the slack in the consist is bunched.  This spring can be softened by pushing it in the coupler pocket beyound the travel of the knuckle.  The mod takes all of about 30 seconds to perform.  Once complete the couplers will reliably close at the speeds I listed above.

For those using Kadee #5's, Al Mayo has come up with a different mod that seems to work quite well in this youtube video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=niLXNmjRn6Y

I have not tried this mod myself because I don't have many #5's left in my fleet and I'm satisfied with the results of my own mod.  I can't speak to effectiveness of the mod beyond what is shown in the video, but those with #5's may want to try it since the results seem better than my mod.

Hope that helps Claudio.

 

[Motley]

I also have 2 Aces from the first run and I had problems so I replaced them with Kadees.

Apparently they redesigned the couplers on their second run and they work much better, but the couplers are too low now. And replacing them with Kadees is the current fix. No word from MTH on this yet.

[Hamltnblue]

I have 2 Aces and replaced the couplers on them.  Some people have luck with them, some don't.  I simply didn't like the look of them. 

[steemtrayn]

Replace it with a Kadee.

[CJA]

I'm having serious difficulties in correctly performing the coupling of the Ace of MTH SD70 locomotives.
If I use low speed, in most cases does not close the coupling.
If I use high speed, which is not appropriate in most cases does not close the coupling.
I wonder if there is some additional information to effect the closing of the couplings correctly.

Thanks to all
Claudio José Alves