Coupling issues on newer GP-35's and RS-11's.
Diesels didn't couple together due to tight tollerance.
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Mike will get back with you at some point, have to be patient. I wouldn't waste any time talking to lionel techs as it is like talking to the wall in my experiences.
Can I see a picture of the knuckle top down, not on an angle in the open and closed position
Mike is out of his office until Monday. He has always gotten back to me and I have a pending issue right now, so I really understand it sucks, but be patient. Have you tried different era cars from some different manufacturers? My new GP35 in UP livery couples fine.
Try having both couplers open when coupling together. It works for me.
romiller
I have occasionally encountered overly tight clearances on postwar couplers, sometimes due to excess material along the horizontal mold parting lines. I was able to correct it with careful filing using small jewellers files, referencing other normal couplers as a pattern for comparison and fitting.
Do the couplers in question open and close OK when not engaging another coupler? As previously mentioned, a straight-down photo would show us more.
Is this a dummy GP-35 unit? I ask as the coupler looks like a mechanical magnetic unit rather than an electro-coupler.
Is the coupler a bit stiff if you operate it manually? If so, then this could be the problem as it looks as though it is moving to the side rather than closing. If this is the problem, then a little bit of graphite powder and a few dozen rapid manual operations should free it up. Many couplers are a little stiff when new, but this soon eases with use.
I treat all of my couplers to a dash of graphite as soon as I receive them, and so far they all operate perfectly. The electro-couplers on my GP-35 are actually some of the smoothest operating couplers that I have.
Let's hope they are more responsive to this problem then what Lionel is to the Shay not pulling any cars it was rated to run on.
Lionel has replaced the defective coupler assemblies under warranty and returned the units in a timely manner.
The units have a different style coupler and are now operating as normal.
Thanks to Mike and staff at Lionel for correcting the issue.
