N scale "lurching" freight cars.

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

I have a problem with my micro trains freight cars lurching along a slow speed. It’s caused by the centering springs in the coupler boxes providing too much slack. If the train passes over an uncoupler, the last car will uncouple. Does anyone have a solution for this?

2

Its slinky its slinky-oops… sorry,not funny.[:I]

I will recommend putting a brass pickup tab on the caboose truck or the truck of the last car-if you use Ready Freddy.That should add just enough drag to stop the old slinky move…

3

One clever solution I’ve seen is to put Accumate couplers into Micro Trains draft gear. An expensive solution to be sure, since you need two couplers to make one, but so far that’s the best way to overcome the dreaded “slinky” effect…

Lee

4

I am not sure if they are still availible, but some time ago MircoTrains offered little springs that fit between the truck frame and the axle … I would install these on the caboose and the tension from these would eliminate a lot of the slack…

5

Micro trains makes truck restraining springs #1953 $1.40 for a dozen. don’t put them on too many cars as you may have too much restraint and your locos won’t be able to pull very many cars.

6

Thanks all, I’ll give the little springs a try.

John