Accumate Couplers

wes577 Apr 1, 2007

  1. wes577

    wes577 TrainBoard Member

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    Does anyone on this forum use Accumate couplers instead of MTL couplers on their freight cars & engines? Do you replace the accumate couplers on Atlas engines with MTL couplers? Do you replace the accumate trucks on all new atlas cars with MTL trucks?
     
  2. Tudor

    Tudor TrainBoard Member

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    On most all my runners I have upgraded most of them to MTL trucks, wheels and couplers. On my later Atlas that came with Accumates, I simply leave them intact, and dont plan to change them unless they because a problem. So, those are dealt with on an individual basis.
     
  3. SecretWeapon

    SecretWeapon Passed away January 23, 2024 In Memoriam

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    Under a load,crapumates can't handle it. They break apart. MTL is the way to go !!!!!!!!!!!!!
     
  4. FloridaBoy

    FloridaBoy TrainBoard Member

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    I use Accumates on a lot of my rolling stock, but not my locos. I simply do not use them on locos, because the only thing LHS's sell around here are trucks with the couplers. My rule of thumb is to use MT couplers on all of my MT rolling stock, and Accumates on just about everything else. I would feel that I would be downgrading a MT car using another brand of coupler.
     
  5. daniel_leavitt2000

    daniel_leavitt2000 TrainBoard Member

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    I use Accumates in a lot of engine projects. I keep accumates on my cars but take the trip pins out (they just pull out). I do not use magnetic uncoupling anyway.
     
  6. Mr X

    Mr X TrainBoard Member

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    I second that motion! I have accumates on only a few cars (my newest ones) Very soon when I get the money together I plan to change all these over to MT. Including the four locomotives that I just purchased.

    Accumates in some circumstance work all right but in my opinion MT are the way to go. Also I do use magnetic uncoupling and MT seem to be more responsive.

    Mr X
     
  7. Flash Blackman

    Flash Blackman TrainBoard Member

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    There have been a lot of threads on this topic over the last few years. If you just search "accumates" you will find a lot of information on the subject.

    Welcome to Trainboard!
     
  8. bkloss

    bkloss TrainBoard Supporter

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    Every car gets changed to MT. I would prefer to leave the accumates BUT they are totally unreliable in anything over a 10 car train and used on a layout with ANY grades. This is truly a dissapointment and actually, now, steers me away from buying Atlas rolling stock because of the additional cost factor involved in changing the accumates out.

    What surprises me is that this situation has clearly been relayed to Atlas for many years and nothing gets done. If it's because of the coupler pocket to allow for a rapido coupler; I say change it. If it isn't this; do something to make them reliable and then advertise the fact that you fixed them. How could they go wrong?

    I also change the locos over to MT because they also like to uncouple on grades and that's not a good thing if it happens in a hidden area - I know.....
     
  9. ATSFCLIFF

    ATSFCLIFF TrainBoard Member

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    I still have a few cars with Accumates which I will eventually replace with MT's when they start giving problems. I have progressively replaced all the trucks of my rolling stock with MT trucks. It is the Atlas articulated autoracks that I find difficult to convert because of it's long shanks. I would welcome help/suggestions on how to overcome this.
    Cheers,
     
  10. Powersteamguy1790

    Powersteamguy1790 Permanently dispatched

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    Whatever Accumates I had on Atlas cars were immediately replaced by MT couplers. Accumates have problems with heavy loads placed on them.

    Stay cool and run steam....:cool::cool:
     
  11. DarylK

    DarylK TrainBoard Member

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    Well there always has to be one! I am changing all my MT couplers over to Accumates. I am using atlas part #23015, engine couplers, to mount in MT coupler boxes or to simply body mount on my rolling stock. I do a lot of operating on the Rochelle Subdivision and I absolutely hate the slinky bounce from MT couplers.

    Daryl
     
  12. Woz

    Woz TrainBoard Member

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    I to have changed all ofthe rolling stock over to MT, and now since I built a new layout with 55 rail I have to change all the wheels again.
     
  13. oldrk

    oldrk TrainBoard Supporter

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    If you run engine light they might hold together.
     
  14. John G. Adney

    John G. Adney Passed away May 19, 2010 In Memoriam

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    I have had no problems with Accumates, but I do run short trains on a level layout and this could be reasons why I have not had problems. I recently converted 100 cars and 4 locomotives to MT couplers from Rapidos. I aim to purchase MT rolling stock the most, but if a nice car comes from Atlas and I'm short of cash, I'll buy the Atlas car with Accumates. I've seen a few layouts, with grades and longer trains, where Accumates are on a lot of cars and have seen no problems. I like the Atlas Trainmen line, even if they do have Accumates. I favor MTs but I can't always afford the expensive cars and trucks/couplers.
     
  15. bryan9

    bryan9 TrainBoard Member

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    Slinky bounce, a.k.a. yo-yo effect

    It is detestable. However, there's a solution - MT sells a pack of truck restraining springs (old part #1953). When a spring is positioned between wheelset and axle, it provides sufficient resistance to minimize the slinky bounce effect. This only needs to be done on the last few cars, or just the caboose, or on just one axle of assorted cars, and presto! No slinky effect.

    --Bryan
     
  16. bkloss

    bkloss TrainBoard Supporter

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    I still would like to know if the accumates will ever get improved(fixed). If they stayed coupled and they shortened the shank; they would be great. Springs are ok to put tension on the train but my trains are changed from yard to yard and it would be difficult to keep track of the ones with the springs.

    Brian
     
  17. FloridaBoy

    FloridaBoy TrainBoard Member

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    Remember there are other alternatives to Accumates. First Red Caboose has a MT compatible coupler that easily fits into old coupler pockets previously marketed as Unimate. Then there are those trucks made by Intermountain, which are stronger than Accumate, and couple but you have to uncouple them manually.

    Last, there are Kato couplers, which also mate to everything except the Red Caboose couplers.

    All are knuckle couplers and seem to be available. You just have to know where to go looking for them.
     
  18. BarstowRick

    BarstowRick TrainBoard Supporter

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    Priorities!

    I agree with Tudor, Powersteamguy and everyone else on this issue.

    Accumates just don't make the grade. Did I make a pun?

    Right now my priorities or push is to switch out anything with Rapido or better said "Crapido" to Microtrains wheel sets and couplers. For now anything with Accumates will remain as is but most likely run at the end of the train. Unimates do hold up and are a cheaper but temporary substitute. Just not as much fun to operate with. The Uni-solution is to switch over my passenger train sets as I won't be doing a lot of switching. Later when my budget can handle it I will change-over to the MT solution. This will allow me to set out a sleeper, pick-up a mail car, drop off an express box car and etc.

    I wish Athearn and Atlas would listen to it's customers. Politics and so on may be a player here.

    Have fun!
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Apr 3, 2007
  19. sandro schaer

    sandro schaer TrainBoard Member

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    adding a spring to one axle of a car helps to reduce the slinky action. however, having this on the last car doesn't help with loooooong trains. if you run trains of 70+ cars only one spring is not enough. if i run long trains then usually every 20. car has a spring.


    to mark the spring cars you could simply add a decal saying 'spring' anywhere on your car. maybe on the rooftop. this would make them easier to find.
     
  20. Ed Pinkley#2

    Ed Pinkley#2 TrainBoard Member

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    Although i run M/T on 95% of my fleet and 100% of my engines I wonder if there is a way to make the accumate a more reliable coupler? I do like them but they almost always fall apart and then cause a big derailment. That is why I have gotten away from them. The Accumates do not have the slinky effect but I can live with the springs in axles if the couplers stay together. Does anyone have a fix to the falling apart problem. Darly what are you doing to keep the couplers together. I watch the videos you have and it looks like the trains run flawlessly. Also my kids love the new Challenger video. You certainly have a great layout. I must say thanks for all you put on your website.
     

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