How to stop boxcar coupler from uncoupling

One quick semi-permanent fix is to use a small wire tie around the shank, if you don’t need to do any switching. A black one blends in and is inconspicuous.

I gave up trying to fix this kind of thing years ago. I simply put a drop of super glue on the knuckle pin, close it and forget about it. Any resulting negative impact on the value of the car is for my heirs to worry about.

Curt

@juniata guy posted:

I gave up trying to fix this kind of thing years ago. I simply put a drop of super glue on the knuckle pin, close it and forget about it. Any resulting negative impact on the value of the car is for my heirs to worry about.

Curt

I'm glad that I'm not the only one that does this......I do, too......

I got tired of using rubber bands.....

Peter

Great ideas

Thanks

Convert to kadee

Run it last

If you have a kid in braces those little clear o rings work to keep couplers closed. The o rings have to be sized right because there were many different sizes , not sure if Orthodontics still uses them as fortunately braces for kids are long past.

Also putting the offending car toward the end of consist will put less stress on the finicky coupler.

Here's the plan. I went to the store and grabbed a few wire ties from the produce dept. They are green but will serve the purpose. I will hold off on gluing it (but I'm prepared to do that if necessary) in spite of what the heirs may say.

As far as position goes, I have a nice caboose in the consist and can't put the box car at the end. It was positioned in front of the caboose so it was far back with less stress.

Hopefully I'm set for a while. This loop and the Standard gauge loop in the living room are the Christmas layouts that we can't quite get put away yet

If you use just a dab ..of  Ge silicone (clear) . it will hold .. If you ever wanted to repair it , a little dental work removing it won' t be that hard..

  If you go with the orthodontic rubber bands you still get to uncouple them with a remote track. If the rubber bands dry out in five years or more Big Deal !

I use hot glue, does the job, u can always take the glue out if u think u can make a repair on the coupler.

I steal supplies like these https://www.cvs.com/shop/beaut...wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds from my wife or daughters

I use a black twisty tie to remedy these problems.  On rare occasions I've used glue, as others have already said they do too.  

Guys,

I just get tired of the whole lousy lack of quality control across the whole industry, what with lack of couplers staying coupled on boxcars or lack of coupler response to remote control command on a new engine. Both the above scenarios have occurred to me. You can count on operating accessories to be defective on a not-rare basis as well, resulting in the wasting of precious dollars...I would rather spend a few more good bucks for a well- made product. Not all of us are adept at fixing broken things....

I also use super glue in the above situation.

@trumpettrain posted:

I use a black twisty tie to remedy these problems.  On rare occasions I've used glue, as others have already said they do too.  

Great minds think alike! I do the exact same thing and it works very well.

Bryce

I think a small amount of two-part clear epoxy would be a strong and permanent repair. After the epoxy has cured, paint it a mixture of black and rust.

MELGAR

When I get a coupler that is opening when it should not, I do the above, or more often, I replace the truck.   Sometimes I retire the car to the shelf, giving it time to think about its poor behaviour.

I have a switching type layout, so an improper operating coupler causes lots of problems, which requires reaching over and working the couplers by hand. I prefer not to do this too much.

Another related problem, not mentioned yet, is a coupler that is "stiff" and does not want to open up when it passes over the electromagnet uncoupling track. I believe this is the opposite of the above. However I have not figured out how to "loosen" the coupler. Again, I end up replacing the truck.