richhotrainAnyone else have this sort of problem?
Yup. The McHenrys will eventually wedge open or closed, a problem that seems especially acute on shelf coupler versions. Whenever possible, I replace them with Kadees before a car or loco enters service.
Don't just discard them. Save the metal knuckle springs for spares, since they work on Kadees.
Rob Spangler
All engines get Kadees immediately. The cheap plastic things only last a few weeks, anyway. Mostly I build kits for rolling stock, so they get Kadees during construction.
Other cars will get Kadees on both ends as they fail.
The Walthers Proto ones seem pretty good.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Due to continual issues with Kadee knock-offs, a lot of individuals and clubs insist on Kadees only. Properly perpared and installed Kadees operate for years or decades without issue.
Peter
Something to read with your morning coffee, Rich. http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/88/t/121636.aspx
Something to read with your morning coffee, Rich.
http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/88/t/121636.aspx
Thanks for the link, Bear.
Rich
Alton Junction
I like the McHenry/EZ-Mates, used them for years in On30 with no problems. Found they coupled better than KD's.
Using them also in HO. Use McHenrys in N because they don't "bobblehead".
As far as uncoupling under load. While testing the Bachmann On30 2-6-6-2 for a review article rather than add more cars used weights.
That is five pounds.
Of course I won't get to heaven unless I use KD's.
Just sayin'
Harold
As an aside, sad to see that some of those names are presumably no longer present.
Cheers, the Bear.
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
A few months back, I bought 16 Athearn Roundhouse tank cars. Absolutely beautiful, great tracking, couldn't be happier. Except for one thing. The couplers suck.
I have been pulling the 16 tank cars behind pair of Life Like GP9s. Whenever, I stop the train for whatever reason and then start it up again, the tank cars uncouple, never the same car, never the same location.
When I first eyeballed the couplers, they appeared to have a plastic hinge controlling the knuckle. But, last evening, I put on the Optivisor for a closer look. At a glance, it appears that the knuckle opens and closes by a small blackened spring. But it doesn't matter. The couplers seem to have no holding power.
I can literally uncouple the cars right now by simply pulling them in opposite directions. So, I have decided to replace the couplers, all 16 of them (ugh) with Kadee couplers.
Anyone else have this sort of problem?