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I recently bought some coal cars. they are athearns [quite nice] when I installed the couplers the springs would work good until I pressed the cover on & then about half of them were sticky or didn`t work smoothly. Is there a knack to put them on that I don`t know about.also the brakes & other little thing that I was suposed to install were just to small for my old clumsy hands to handle so I gave up on them[any sugestions here]Thank you for any information Dallas
Posts: 2 | From: Spanish fork, Utah | Registered: Jul 2000
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First, what kind of coupler are you using. Most Athearns take a Kadee number 5. It really doesn't matter where you put the spring that comes along with the 5. However, I do not put the spring inside the Athearn coupler cover. Instead, I put the spring in the plastic coupler box, put the coupler in and then put on the coupler cover.
You may also want to take a pair of needle nose pliers to the metal Athearn cover and bend the sides in a little so they have a more snug fit to the coupler box.
To make the installation process easier, I usually put the couplers in place before I put the trucks on. But, when I am just putting the coupler back in place I will sometimes take the axle/wheelset off the axle closest to the coupler box. This gives more freedom for my fingers.
------------------ AJ Y6b N&W and Conrail Fan http://communities.msn.com/TheGRRModelRR (my page)
http://www.nvrra.org (my club's page)
Posts: 30 | From: Eastern Mass, USA | Registered: Aug 2000
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Hello Dallas!! I thought we had lost you forever when the old forum died...Couplers can be a pain. I think the Athearns need number 5 couplers, so if you aren't using those that may be the problem . In terms of small parts and clumsy hands...well I'm pretty much all thumbs . I do find installing small parts easier using a light with a magnifying lens on it (its amazing how much fumbling is caused by not SEEING). I think Kaydee sells a special installation tool for springs etc. that may make the task easier. Welcome aboard and Happy Modeling!! John
------------------ Colorado and Southwestern, the Top of the Rockies! http://jstrainstation.homestead.com
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Dallas, Are the couplers you are using the NMRA couplers that came with the kit, or are they an aftermarket brand that you purchased separately? Scott Whitfield Sachse Central & Purple Mountain RR
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Hi the couplers came with the cars . I think they are called horn & hook or something like that. another question, after I put the trucks on & put them on the track, when they went around a corner they would almost tip over [did several times] the trucks seem to be to loose, to much play, how do you fix this [with washers or what]. thanks for all the responses. Dallas
quote:Originally posted by scott whitfield: Dallas, Are the couplers you are using the NMRA couplers that came with the kit, or are they an aftermarket brand that you purchased separately? Scott Whitfield Sachse Central & Purple Mountain RR
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Check your cars for loose trucks. They should be loose enough to swivel side to side easily horizontaly but not up/down vertically. Tighten the mounting screws accordingly.
Posts: 249 | From: Downey CA USA | Registered: Jul 2000
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. In terms of small parts and clumsy hands...well I'm pretty much all thumbs 
. I do find installing small parts easier using a light with a magnifying lens on it (its amazing how much fumbling is caused by not SEEING). I think Kaydee sells a special installation tool for springs etc. that may make the task easier. Welcome aboard and Happy Modeling!!
