Electrocoupler opens over Lionel Sensor Track

Does  the coupler fire or perhaps just a weak (plunger) spring?

I tried listening for the coupler to fire, but the engine needs to be moving at a medium speed for this to happen (sorry I didn't mention that before) and it is too noisy since the Fast Track is on a concrete floor.  As I mentioned, the train will go around the track two or three times and always uncouples as it passes over the sensor track.  I've done this numerous times at varying speeds.

My next step is to just take the sensor track out and then see what happens but I wanted to see if this has been seen before by someone else.  Taking the 5" out on the other side requires climbing over a table, and my broken rib, while healing, still doesn't like doing things like that.

Taking the 5" out on the other side requires climbing on the table, and my broken rib, while healing, still doesn't like doing things like that.

Ron   Don't do that. Hang on... someone will be able to help... good luck.

Sounds like electrical noise may be triggering the coupler.  The sensor track rails have no connection to the sensor track electronics, so I seriously doubt it's the fact that it's a sensor track, for sure since you say it's not powered!  I'd wonder if there is a poor connection between the adjacent rails and it's being triggered by electrical noise from the poor connection.  One way to verify this is to simply unplug the coupler from the Cruise Commander, if it still opens, it's strictly a mechanical issue.  If it doesn't, I'd be inspecting trackwork, specifically connectivity between the rails.

Make sure that the sensor track is very clean. I have had electrocouplers open when passing over switches. Cleaning the rails on the switch cured the problem.

John and David,

Thanks for the inputs.  I will give them a try early next week when I get the chance.

I also haven't tried any other engine with the ERR upgrade (I have two in boxes somewhere); I'll see what happens to them.  Lionel TMCC and Legacy engines don't have the problem.

My wife, who is in a lot better shape than me, said she would craw under the table and remove the 5' piece for me if needed.  She hasn't yet said what she wants in return

She asks for what she wants in return before she puts the piece back!