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Hi,

I recently purchased an MTH E8 Santa Fe Super Chief set (20-20622-1). I just discovered a problem today with the rear electro coupler on the E8 A unit.  It seems to want to spontaneously open sometimes.  Tonight, the train (E8 with passenger cars) was running around my layout when all of a sudden, the rear coupler on the locomotive opened.  This happened twice. 

I manually closed the coupler and then pushed the coupler around with my finger.  I often heard a "click" and the coupler opened. I thought a short might be causing the issue, but I don't see any obvious problems with the wiring. The two wires on the sides of the electro coupler seem to be ok (no breaks or kinks) and are soldered on fine.

Can anyone provide guidance on how to troubleshoot/solve this?  I am new to O scale trains. I have a couple other locomotives, and they don't have this issue.

Thanks. 

Pete

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I found this post because of researching a similar issue with a brand new Y3B. Great locomotive, annoying coupler issue.

Each time it releases I've check the track right where it happened. Usually I find a slight movement in the track when you try to wiggle it around. I have everything nailed down within an inch of its life now. Just the littlest wiggle seems enough.

That's my next thing to try. Open up the tender and "unhook" power somehow without damaging the coupler. The spot where it happens is consistent not random. There is a little unevenness in the track height right there I'm going to try and resolve tonight. Trim down the roadbed a little or whatever I have to do and see what that does first. Get it leveled out nice.

Good point though. I'll keep both options on the table and see where it leads.

 

Mechanical wins the day.

I had a switch with a short straight section coming off it. It had a very small height difference compared to the switch due to the roadbed. So I pulled that area up and leveled it. no issues since. The difference might have been 1/8" or less across 3 1/2" of length.

This wasn't enough to look at and say "wow, need to fix that". But it also was not perfect. So starting out I had three "trouble" spots in a mainline about 80' in total length. I all three cases fine tooth combing resolved the issue with the wayward coupler.

My first thought was electrical due to track movement  but in each case I leveled it out also just in the repair process. A 2017 locomotive and 1950 track. New layout but still old track tinplate style tube, not the fancy stuff. Adds to the character and flavor of three rail I think.

Thanks,

Randy

 

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