N Gauge Forum

General Category => N Gauge Discussion => Topic started by: Norfolkrover on March 28, 2014, 09:54:11 AM

Title: Help needed re unconsciuos uncoupling
Post by: Norfolkrover on March 28, 2014, 09:54:11 AM
My railway is now running fine but the factory fitted couplers on the farish coaches keep uncoupling from both themselves and the locos . Its  driving me crazy as well as causing the odd crash. Any suggestions to remedy most welcome.
Title: Re: Help needed re unconsciuos uncoupling
Post by: BobB on March 28, 2014, 10:11:11 AM
Check how high the couplings are. I suggest you choose one end of a loco and then compare everything to it.
Title: Re: Help needed re unconsciuos uncoupling
Post by: CarriageShed on March 28, 2014, 01:22:09 PM
Quote from: Norfolkrover on March 28, 2014, 09:54:11 AM
My railway is now running fine but the factory fitted couplers on the farish coaches keep uncoupling from both themselves and the locos . Its  driving me crazy as well as causing the odd crash. Any suggestions to remedy most welcome.

Also check for coupler droop. It's a well-known problem, especially for older locos and rolling stock, but can be mitigated with minor treatment (and my tongue is only partially in cheek for that statement!).
Title: Re: Help needed re unconsciuos uncoupling
Post by: edwin_m on March 28, 2014, 02:05:01 PM
I've had this, possibly due to bumps at baseboard joints working the couplings up and down and the amount of tension in the couplings of a long train on a rising gradient.  If they have NEM pockets and you don't want automatic uncoupling then the Dapol non-magnetic buckeyes are a cheap and easy substitute, and also allow the separation to be adjusted by using long or short versions.