Never had an Accumate "explode" but it has been suggested on the Web. I was just fixing a cover that wouldn't stay on the truck.Have a "What-I-Did" at:http://www.chainsawjunction.com/n-scale/cars/explosions/Thank you if you visitHarold
Dunno how good Accumates are in N but in HO, the cure is to replace them with Kadee's. I'd think a good cure in N would be to do the same thing with the equivelents, Microtrains couplers.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
Having used Accumates in several applications:
On30 using the HO standard version
All the other HO large couplers have a "pencil neck" and that hideous spring:
Early Rail using the N-Scale version
Accurails Proto:HO which is the best scale coupler in HO
Have found that Accumates function better than KD's.
MicroTrains N-Scale couplers have a dreadful "bobbleheading" or "slinky" problem.
Have replace all the MT's with N-Scale McHenrys, no "bobbleheading"
The N-Scale McHenrys have the hideous spring, but in N-Scale it is too small to be see.
Harold
I was an N-scaler back in the day, there is an easier and cheaper solution to the slinky effect than replacing all your couplers :
Place the tiny Kadee springs between the needle point and the truck side frame in the caboose wheelsets or last car if you don't use cabooses.
It places enough drag on the train to stretch out the cars and stop the oscillating.
What about switching? Second video
Put retaining springs in all the cars?
Defeats the purpose of free rolling.
Thats going to be a personal and financial choice for N-scalers ultimately.