Are the new Lionel locomotives with kinamatic couplers any good? I had an early one and sent it back because it was junk. The pilot was dragging on the track and derailed etc.
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I'm not impressed, they look like the older ones to me. The diesels hang up on the ground throws going into my yard if I don't hold the pilot over as they pull past the switch.
The new SD45s I got a couple months ago fell apart right in the box. The new one arrived intact however, the screws need to be tightened regularly… particularly the 2 circled below. If not, there’s a lot of slop in the coupler and the larger pilot piece itself.
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@VJandP posted:The new SD45s I got a couple months ago fell apart right in the box. The new one arrived intact however, the screws need to be tightened regularly… particularly the 2 circled below. If not, there’s a lot of slop in the coupler and the larger pilot piece itself.
Careful when you tighten them, very easy to strip, tiny fine threaded screws, also watch the 2 wires are not pinched going to the coupler,
Looks like a very poor system. Did Lionel make any regular truck ES44ac locos?
Might suggest adding a dab of Blue Loctite to the screws to hold them in place. They would still be removable is needed.
@Jayhawk500 posted:Might suggest adding a dab of Blue Loctite to the screws to hold them in place. They would still be removable is needed.
Great suggestion 👍🏼
@oldpirate posted:Careful when you tighten them, very easy to strip, tiny fine threaded screws, also watch the 2 wires are not pinched going to the coupler,
Great call out. Some of these screws are so small, I was using my computer tool kit with the super small bits. You absolutely have to be careful and not over tighten them. And yes, you have to keep an eye on those wires.
@Billsrr posted:Looks like a very poor system. Did Lionel make any regular truck ES44ac locos?
@Billsrr, Yes Sir you are correct on the poor system design, I have a Lionel Santa Fe Legacy SD-45 # 6-85028 the front kinematic pilot was giving me problems, as I looked further I can see the drop in the pilot, so replaced the spring which then lifted the front up a bit and replaced the electro coupler as well due to one of the tiny wires pulled out the coupler, solved the problem, works great.
