Stiff couplers derailing trains, how to fix?

[Baronjutter]

It's Micro Engineering flex, so it's more like bending a coat hanger.  Stays how you bend it.

[Scottl]

I had heard that before, but I guess this is the first time it really registered with me.

The easement is a good idea.  I have moved to the largest radii possible and easements everywhere so I can run the big diesels reliably.   

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Ooh, ooh ooh, I'm mad at myself for missing this one earlier: "... and if the condition lasts for longer than 6 you should probably consult a physician."

Can I still get credit for it?

[peteski]

Ooh, ooh ooh, I'm mad at myself for missing this one earlier: "... and if the condition lasts for longer than 6 you should probably consult a physician."

Stiff coupler? Sounds like a good thing to me.  I wouldn't complain. Some day when, he gets older, he'll have to take pills to get it.

[djconway]

One thing not yet mentioned is to check the car weights.
Too light of a car will cause problems, brief table that I've been using for years.

Length   Weight (oz)   Weight (g) 20   0.63   17.9 25   0.68   19.3 30   0.72   20.4 35   0.77   21.8 40   0.81   23.0 45   0.86   24.4 50   0.9   25.5 55   0.95   26.9 60   0.99   28.1

[peteski]

One thing not yet mentioned is to check the car weights.
Too light of a car will cause problems, brief table that I've been using for years.

Length   Weight (oz)   Weight (g) 20   0.63   17.9 25   0.68   19.3 30   0.72   20.4 35   0.77   21.8 40   0.81   23.0 45   0.86   24.4 50   0.9   25.5 55   0.95   26.9 60   0.99   28.1

SHHH!  Don't let Cody (VonRyan) see this - he makes his cars as light as possible. 

[Kisatchie]

Fixed it by doing this.  What an easy fix!!

I have a question. How did you get the curve so smooth? I have some ME code 55 track, and I can't get smooth curves. Or did you use something like Sweepsticks? See:

http://www.handlaidtrack.com/Custom-Radius-SweepSticks-for-N-track-p/sw-n-c-c.htm


Hmm... I told Kiz he'd get
smoother curves if he
wouldn't karate chop
the track...

[Baronjutter]

Just sort of massaged it until it felt/looked smooth.  I'm sure it's not geometrically perfect or anything,  I should really lay down templates or something first and line the centres up.   But it looks ok and the trains don't complain anymore.

The black line was my first try at making a perfect curve.   Just drew it with a ruler spiked at 15" and a felt pen at the end.  You don't really bend ME flex, you massage it slowly from end to end.

[crrcoal]

At the bottom of this thread is the tony Koester method of curving ME flex. I did it with HO scale but used a wooded paint stirrer to massage the ties. Worked like a charm! I'm hopeful the N scale ME flex will do the same.

http://forum.atlasrr.com/forum/topic.asp?ARCHIVE=true&TOPIC_ID=47244&whichpage=2

[ednadolski]

At the bottom of this thread is the tony Koester method of curving ME flex. I did it with HO scale but used a wooded paint stirrer to massage the ties. Worked like a charm!

I hear it only takes seven seconds.   

Ed

[DKS]

I hear it only takes seven seconds.   

Bah-dump bump, tsss.

[VonRyan]

SHHH!  Don't let Cody (VonRyan) see this - he makes his cars as light as possible. 

See what? 

Low weight and low center of gravity are good.