Are there coupler springs that are heavy duty?

If these couplers are designed like the old style coil couplers, the spring can be taken out and stretched a bit to help keep the knuckle closed. I am not aware of any "heavy duty" replacement springs.

Larry

Don't need to stretch the spring, that's not the fault. The fault is with the knuckle, take a file and true the area where the plunger locks the knuckle. I use a miniature square file and take 3-4 strokes and its square. When you assemble the coupler you can feel the difference when the pin locks. Check the plunger also, it probably has a little casting flash.

Bill

Bill, could you post some photos of the items to look at please.  I've got some thumb tack couplers that open on long trains and use twisty ties to keep them shut, but then I can't open them at all.  My electro couplers so far stay shut.

Just remember, I am not a photographer. 

   Top photo, Knuckle from Coil coupler, bottom is plastic from TT coupler.

Bill

Pretty good photos for a non-photographer.

I wonder if the old #TC-21 knuckles are a drop in replacement for the new knuckles, and if so, do they lock better than the new ones? It seems as though the new knuckles may have a design issue that needs to be addressed?

Larry

Larry,

 I have used the TC-21 as replacements on newer couplers.

Bill

Thanks, Bill.

Larry

That seemed to do the trick! Thank you!  But while testing it before spreading the rivet the assembly let loose and now I cant find the plunger spring! So do you have a lionel part number for the electro coupler plunger spring? I want to but allot. I see you sell them

Mike,

  I don't have a number for the spring. The postwar spring is a little to small.

Bill

Bill, do the other K-line electro couplers benefit from filing or did they fix that problem with the later engines?

Pete

I have never seen a coupler that is as smooth as you can make them with a little work, and that includes brand new Legacy locomotives.  They're all castings, and there's no effort to remove any "flash" after manufacture.

I have found that by filing a back taper on the knuckle, it does not work it's way out of position while traveling on the track. 

If it's smooth enough, I've never had them work their way open even flush.  The problem appears to be that the rough surface grips and keeps working the coupler open.  The bonus is they also couple very easily so you can couple up without bashing the rolling stock at high speed.

The real problem is that those little buggers tend to fly off.  If I fix six I generally loose three springs and now my spring stock is depleted. I can't find a source for new springs. I have fixed six and still have a couple to go.  I think I will send the spring to a major spring supplier and let them find some. Then I will buy a whole bunch

The electrocoupler springs seem to be unobtainium , but the conventional coupler springs are readily available.  If you find a source for electrocoupler springs, please post it, I'd like to have some as well!

OK, I just pulled coupler apart on my K-Line Hudson. I found only a very small casting flash on the knuckle and none on the plunger. it was very smooth with nickel plating, not cast but ground smooth. I filed the knuckle smooth as per Bill's photo. 

Maybe these couplers came from different batches. I would suggest only doing this if you are having a problem.

Pete

It's normally the knuckle that needs the work, the plunger is normally smooth.