just received a new batch of assembled 2004 couplers with BLACK trip pins. Is this the new norm ? Fred
I hope some day they will make the assembled couplers in silver too! My ATSF fleet would like that a lot!
I've heard (actually read) this is the case but I haven't bought their assembled couplers in a while.
I purchased a package of unassembled 1015's about a month ago and the trip pins in the package were also black.
That's how I used to do it. Now, I think it will just be easier to swap out the pins. I've downsized to around 100 MTs over the past several years, so we're not talking about a huge effort. I doubt MT will gouge us on buying the replacement pins.
Didn't they use to be black? I remember when I first got into N scale about 14 years ago and blackened trip pins were the norm, then I started seeing uncolored copper more often (I assume as a cost-cutting measure?).
I believe they were/are soft steel. Brass wouldn't be such a hot idea for something that woks by magnetism.
I cut all of mine off. They just get in the way when I am trying to manual uncouple a car. I alot less headaches and alot less pulling the whole car off the tracks.
You can use a bamboo skewer or a Rix uncoupler tool, even a skinny screwdriver. Very easy to uncouple.
That and I have never seen magnets between the rails on the real thing...to uncouple cars. True...a giant sharpened telephone pole coming out of the sky to uncouple cars isn't prototypical either. BUT...the actions to uncouple are closer to the real thing then giant magnets pulling couplers open ! JS Well we seem to be drifting Off Topic.... Yea for blackened trip pins !!
I'm with Hansel. I always cut them off and paint out the copper stubs. I push the top bit down flush with the top of the coupler, and then trim off the bottom curly piece. For Accumates, I just pull them completely out. 20 years ago, I fooled around with the magnet thing for a while, and decided that it was, well, ridiculous. Never looked back. Do people actually use the magnetic feature? They bury magnets in all their leads and such? I'm not criticizing their use, it's your railroad after all. I just never saw the advantage.
Glad the new ones are black. Will be a nice touch. Probably won't replace all my old ones but at some point, will probably go on a Neolube painting spree.
If you get MTL couples installed correctly, height adjusted right, and uncouplers set well. MTL's are a joy to use. I'm trying to get most of mine BODY MOUNTED. You don't think that it would make difference, but it does. Also use a lot of remote uncouplers and electro magnetic uncouplers. Have used MTL brand electro magnetic uncouplers and have made my own. Trying to keep that 0-5-0 switcher on the controls where it belongs.
