Having problems with the rear electro couplers on both my Norfolk Southern and CXS ET44AC LC+2.0 diesels. (Lionel# 1934032 and 1934022 respectively )
I've tried MTH couplers, old postwar cars with the staple end trucks, new cheapo plastic trucks- there's no consistent pattern- some work by SLAMMING the car into the rear truck of the diesel, while some NEVER lock the diesel's coupler. Yet, the couplers on BOTH engines WILL lock if I press it in by hand. And, of course, if I close the diesel's coupler by hand, and the rolling stock's coupler, and manually insert one coupler into the other, they both stay locked.
I have a Lionel A5 0-4-0 switcher that works just fine with the SAME cars.
I have a Lionel #2022011 Granite Run Quarry LionChief+ 2.0 0-6-0T switcher that initially had the same problem, but I finally got it to work (although I have no earthly idea of what I did to get it to work, outside of disassembling it, and applying a drop of Labelle 107 oil inside the cylinder that the little spring- loaded rod slides in which pushes the claw out ?) I have to add that with both diesels, the FRONT electro couplers work JUST FINE. It's always the REAR couplers that are problematic. The same phenomenon on the Granite Run Quarry, by the way. I'm still trying to figure out the "physics" of this.
I also have a Cotton Belt GP7 Legacy Diesel Lionel #2133161, whose rear coupler works just fine, no matter what cars I couple.
What am I missing here? And, what is it with the two ET44AC's? They're only 2 months old.
Would ordering a new coupler solve this? (if available even)??
Any tips or guidance here would be greatly appreciated. I really would miss these two engines sending them in for warranty repair, because outside of the coupler issue, they are both great performers!
