A thread has discussed the couplers on the latest milk cars.  There may be a parallel.  John

Thanks Rattler21, it's the exact same problem.

The problem isn’t the tender couplers. I’ve got a few of the GS models and they couple fine to older Lionel (pre 2016), Golden Gate Depot, Weaver, MTH, K-Line, and Atlas.  The only coupling issues I’ve had are the PS-1 boxcars in the Vision GS freight set which have the newer crappy knuckles that Lionel is using now.

List the product numbers of the freight cars.

Andrew

Friendship Train SP PS-1 Boxcar - 2026745

New York Central Freightsounds PS-1 Boxcar - 2026170

Lionel Lines Cupolacam - 1926960

The fact that they do not have sprung couplers isn't the end of the world because I have O72 curves, it's that the knuckles just are not correct.  They may mate with each other (haven't tried that), but they do not mate with anything else.  If I thought it might work, I would go the Lionel parts bin and order coupler's from older cars.

I have one of those NYC PS-1 boxcars with sounds reserved.

I hope it has couplers that are assembled correctly.

Andrew

Unfortunately it's all of the new freight car couplers they have recently changed so far. I think you are safe with the thumbtack couplers produced from 2016-2018ish, but it's buyer beware from that point forward.

I’ve actually noticed a similar issue with a Legacy F3 AA set I bought a while back.

It's the Vietnamese production of the freight car couplers. The mold castings are different from the
Chinese molds. You can couple the new stuff with almost anything but new Lionel. Go figure.

BTW, if you are so inclined, you can file them and make them work. CLICK HERE for the discussion.

Chris

LVHR

You're in the right place if you are asking how to change over to scale couplers.   Which eliminates all issues.

- Crank

For starters, I'd try graphite based lubricants or other plastic safe materials.  Sometimes just reducing friction works in these situations, although I haven't tried it in this specific setting.  Works well for stubborn locks too .  Good luck.

I hear you..  I have had success with graphite as well, but in this situation, the dimensions of the new knuckles are just plain wrong.  Like trying to stick a square peg in a round hole.

Official response from Lionel's email responders is "I would recommend using some graphite to help lubricate the joints of the knuckle couplers. This has worked for many of my customers and has proven to be a very simply fix for this.".

So sounds like there are no plans to correct the coupler issue.  I tried graphite, but it didn't work, at all.  The problem is that the pocket on the coupler is smaller than traditional coupler pockets.  I wound up filing the 2 specific areas on the Cupola-cam coupler.  Under the hinge and in the bottom left corner if you are looking from the bottom.  This worked.

Needless to say, I will not purchase another Lionel PS-1 boxcar or caboose with the following description:

"Die cast metal trucks and operating couplers"

It has to say this in the Lionel description:

"Die-cast metal sprung trucks and operating couplers"

Mike

That’s unfortunate that Lionel will not be fixing the tooling. Very disappointing. $80-100 scale freight cars should not require servicing to make the couplers connect. There is literally no precedent for this in the history of 3 rail model trains.
Since I have more rolling stock than I know what to do with, I won’t be tempted to order rolling stock from the catalogs in the future.

Mike,

This was reported in several other postings. These new couplers are, IMO are "DEFECTIVE". Wont couple to cars released in the last year or more. I too have one of the Friendship cars. You have 2 choices. Replace the trucks, adding $25 or more to the car, or filing the knuckle on both the inside and outside to they couple. Even by modifying the knuckle, I do not trust the new "CHEAP" design of the truck. I had an extra pair of trucks and replaced them on my car. I really what the rest of the Friendship cars, but wont buy them until the "DEFECT" is fixed.

Check out the topic: "Continuing Saga of Lionel's poor new truck design" on the OGR Forum.

In another post, someone stated that they heard from the Customer Service manager, Dean, that Lionel was going to correct the issue. But have no other details.

RAY

Thanks Ray, I am on the discussion as well.  The cost is not a factor with me and although filing the coupler, I, like you, consider it still a “cheap” coupler.

I would replace them in a heart beat if I knew which trucks on Lionel’s parts web site to buy.  Both for the Friendship car and the Freightsounds NYC PS-1.  For the latter, I need trucks/couplers that have the middle rail pickup for power.  If you or anyone else knows what this #’s are or can suggest a way to figure it out, I would greatly appreciate it.

Seems like Lionel is moving backwards to the days of General Mills “Fundimensions” where most everything they made was crap.

@electric_express_200 posted:

Official response from Lionel's email responders is "I would recommend using some graphite to help lubricate the joints of the knuckle couplers. This has worked for many of my customers and has proven to be a very simply fix for this.".

So sounds like there are no plans to correct the coupler issue.  I tried graphite, but it didn't work, at all.  The problem is that the pocket on the coupler is smaller than traditional coupler pockets.  I wound up filing the 2 specific areas on the Cupola-cam coupler.  Under the hinge and in the bottom left corner if you are looking from the bottom.  This worked.

Needless to say, I will not purchase another Lionel PS-1 boxcar or caboose with the following description:

"Die cast metal trucks and operating couplers"

It has to say this in the Lionel description:

"Die-cast metal sprung trucks and operating couplers"

Mike

Here's my $.02 from the other post about the milk reefers that were finally produced after almost 6 years. The new couplers will almost never mate properly with virtually any of the older couplers. Why? the coupler itself is a different shape in that the clearance inside the knuckle is shallower so there is a much tighter fit with an older coupler so there is not enough space to allow the knuckles to move around curves (that's not to say they will not but if you push them slowly by hand you will see the wheels ride up, go fast enough and they derail). This lack of space also does not allow them the couple unless you pick up one and place it inside of the other. The other thread shows you how to "adjust" the new ones. No one but Lionel knows what happened and I have not heard of a free of charge fix from Lionel except if you purchased one of the METCA special run reefers. Rumor has it Lionel is replacing those trucks for the buyers free of charge and correcting the production flaw on future production. If and when we will see any of this is anyone's guess. As is, will I receive a free pair of corrected trucks for my NYC Milk Reefer?

If buying replacements trucks is not an issue, then search the Lionel produce database for the PS-1 box cars and Freightsounds PS-1 boxcars they produce several years ago and see if those trucks can swap in for the trucks on the new cars. I did that with my NYC Milk Reeefer, I purchased a pair of trucks from the prior production milk reefers and installed them on the new reefer. Perfect fit and took all of 10 minutes.

Hope this helps.

Mike

Yes, excellent, thanks Mike!  I just want them to work right, cost is low on the priority list.