Disintegrating Atlas Scale Coupler Mounts

Atlas O Scale couplers do the same thing.

I just checked my Atlas O F-2 but don't find a problem. Please post when you have these parts available and I will buy some.

MELGAR

Do not know about any Atlas mounts, but I had three Atlas coupler shafts pull apart on me.  They were all on an Atlas Erie FM A-B-A consist, two on one A unit, the front coupler on the other A unit.  I ordered new electro couplers from Ken with ERR back in 2009 and replaced all four on the A units.  Have had no problem with the B unit, but have spare sets of couplers in the box if ever needed.  Has anyone else had the coupler itself come apart, perhaps from metal contamination?  At the time of failure, I was not pulling any excessive length of consists.  

Jesse   TCA

 Don't know if they are the same as mine but I had the problem, my engines were just sitting for several years. Found the couplers had desintegrated and fell off, the 2 rear on the A units and both on the B

The were non operating. I reverse engineered them but added reinforcement.  I decided to use PETG filament which is pretty strong and 3D print them. They worked and tested them under some heavy loads and no problem so far.

They do not have the centering springs anymore but it does't matter to me as long as they can pull and don't fall apart or come uncoupled.

I've been in contact with Atlas about these, they say you can get them but have to by an assembly, but I don't need any more problems, 

I can give you the STL files that I made to 3D print them. if you don't have access to a printer and want them we could arrange something else.

texastrain posted:

. . . I had three Atlas coupler shafts pull apart on me.  They were all on an Atlas Erie FM A-B-A consist, two on one A unit, the front coupler on the other A unit.  I ordered new electro couplers from Ken with ERR back in 2009 and replaced all four on the A units. . . Has anyone else had the coupler itself come apart, perhaps from metal contamination?  At the time of failure, I was not pulling any excessive length of consists.  

Jesse   TCA

I had coupler problems with my A-B-A Erie-Built consist, too.  In my case, it was just the knuckles.  First the leading knuckle on the booster unit failed.  So, I took it out of the locomotive consist and ran the two cab units back-to-back, and -- within days -- I had another knuckle failure on the front end (Nose) of the trailing (dummy) cab unit.  I bought new electrocouplers from Atlas.  Thay're easy to install, and I have had no more problems with Atlas couplers.

I haven't had any problems with couplers on engines, but had coupler assemblies come apart on several Atlas O Front Runner cars that were made some years ago. It appeared to be zinc pest type problems, with parts breaking into small pieces. There were reports that certain batches of Atlas coupler assemblies suffered from this for a period of time.

sidehack posted:

 Don't know if they are the same as mine but I had the problem, my engines were just sitting for several years. Found the couplers had desintegrated and fell off, the 2 rear on the A units and both on the B

The were non operating. I reverse engineered them but added reinforcement.  I decided to use PETG filament which is pretty strong and 3D print them. They worked and tested them under some heavy loads and no problem so far.

They do not have the centering springs anymore but it does't matter to me as long as they can pull and don't fall apart or come uncoupled.

I've been in contact with Atlas about these, they say you can get them but have to by an assembly, but I don't need any more problems, 

I can give you the STL files that I made to 3D print them. if you don't have access to a printer and want them we could arrange something else.

 

Great job! I’m impressed...

I do have a printer and I’m test printing these today, we’ll see how it goes.  I’m pretty sure I’ll have to use Kadee 743s on these, but it’ll be close to the Lionel work that we did a few years ago.

Here’s the test print from the Lionel F unit Kadee mounts.

thanks!

-Mario

Looking at the breaks, I'd say these castings all have zinc pest. Even though the problem has been eradicated in the US since the 1940s, it is still prevalent overseas, particularly in Asia. One can only hope that they are working to resolve this issue. (But I have my doubts...)

Just my 2 cents.

Chris

LVHR

Test prints are done. 

We’ll see if they fit tonight...

thanks!

-Mario

Fits well. 

thanks!

-Mario

That’s a bingo!

thanks!

-Mario

Mario......nice

Thanks!

I was doing some research last night and found this on Shapeways; someone beat me to it!  And they’re a lot better looking!

Tom McMahon (TJM71) also 3D prints the coupler cut lever mounts, too!  This kid is good, I’m going to have to order from his store.

thanks!

-Mario

My Atlas couplers that broke were in the shaft where the coils are located.  OK... have been looking in files, when I find pics, will post...….   Corrected with replacement couplers from ERR in early 2010 while managing site in Georgia at Robins AFB.

Jesse   TCA

Maybe its time for Atlas to step up to the plate and make replacements available for free exchange of the defective ones.

CentralFan1976 posted:

Thanks!

I was doing some research last night and found this on Shapeways; someone beat me to it!  And they’re a lot better looking!

Tom McMahon (TJM71) also 3D prints the coupler cut lever mounts, too!  This kid is good, I’m going to have to order from his store.

thanks!

-Mario

Man....where were these parts a few years ago? 

You never asked me to work on them!

thanks!

- Mario

 I have had a couple of knuckles break recently as well 

 Hopefully the Kadees I am waiting for won’t be an issue

Al

I recently had one of these couplers break.  I ordered a new part from Atlas, but I had to order the entire truck.  The side frames were a little different on the new truck, so started to disassemble the truck to exchange the frames to match the other end of the car.  As I took apart the old truck it just started to fall apart in pieces.