BLMA PS 4000 Covered Hopper - Bad Coupler

[peteski]

Personally I've had as many problems - if not more - with genuine MT couplers as with knock-offs.

Do you really mean knock-offs (close copies of MT couplers, but not done very well) or just other knuckle coupler brands?  While I still prefer MT, there are some "branded" alternate couplers such as Acumate or McHenry which to me are viable alternatives.  Those are fairly well executed but IMO, they don't quite work as well as MT. 

[Sokramiketes]

That is a sad state of affairs.

While I have no experience with BLMA version of the knuckle coupler, but I have seen and used the IM version of what was supposedly the MT coupler.  While the clone is close in appearance and operation to the MT coupler, it is still an ersatz knuckle coupler.  There are some visual and operational differences: Things like flash and rough surface finish (and draft angles) make those not quite as good as MT.

BTW, when was the last time you have seen any flash on a MT coupler molding?   It seems that everybody wants to cheapen the products they manufacture.  But I for one would not mind paying  couple of bucks more to get the real thing (not some Splenda substitute).  Unless the Chinese factory are holding you up for a ransom - you no use our clone coupler - you take your production elsewhere! 

It's not so much availability or cost, MTL will ship coupler parts pretty quick.  It's more about the PITA of having to purchase an overrun of MTL coupler parts, to account for damage or outright loss during production.  If the Chinese factory makes the couplers in house, then BLMA, IM, WoT, FVM, etc. don't have to coordinate the timing of parts deliveries.  They just order cars and let the factory make their own extra parts in house if they break or lose something.  And they just pay for one set of couplers per car ordered.  Other than IM, you're looking at operations with very few employees, if any, and the headache just doesn't make sense from a business stand point.

[peteski]

It's not so much availability or cost, MTL will ship coupler parts pretty quick.  It's more about the PITA of having to purchase an overrun of MTL coupler parts, to account for damage or outright loss during production.  If the Chinese factory makes the couplers in house, then BLMA, IM, WoT, FVM, etc. don't have to coordinate the timing of parts deliveries.  They just order cars and let the factory make their own extra parts in house if they break or lose something.  And they just pay for one set of couplers per car ordered.  Other than IM, you're looking at operations with very few employees, if any, and the headache just doesn't make sense from a business stand point.

Sure, this is as good excuse explanation as any - I don't know whether it is accurate or not - and I still don't like it!  But I guess that in the end, I will convert all my N scale cars to Protmates anyway. 

[bbussey]

The assessment is accurate.

[peteski]

The assessment is accurate.

Quality couplers: yet another victim of outsourcing to China. 

[ednadolski]

Wow, three pages and over 1300 views for one bad coupler....  Classic Railwire!    

Ed

[peteski]

Wow, three pages and over 1300 views for one bad coupler....  Classic Railwire!    

Ed

Yeah, threads evolve and morph on this forum....but I've seen better.   

[nkalanaga]

I received my pair of PS 4000s today, and inspected the couplers carefully.  All four worked perfectly, and all four had the speck of "something" on the top end of the trip pin.  It appeared to be plastic, and the same color as the knuckle.  My first thought was that it was a tiny shaving scraped off when the pin was installed.  However, as it took some work to remove it, and one piece did NOT want to come off, it looks more likely that the factory is casting the knuckle with the pin in place, and this is a little flash oozing out around the pin. 

It had no effect on the operation, even the reluctant piece came off without damaging the coupler, and it didn't seriously affect the appearance, so I'll not complain about it.  There would be advantages to casting the pin in place, including fewer assembly steps, more consistent assembly, and less chance of it falling out, and I've had KD/MT couplers with scrapings that had to be removed after assembly, so I'd class this as a "difference" rather than a "problem".

As others have said, even MT couplers aren't perfect.  One change I noticed long ago was the screw hole in 1025 boxes.  The screw used to slide through easily.  Now it often has to be screwed in, or the hole drilled out, which can be a nuisance on some mountings.  On others, having the screw solidly attached to the draft gear is an advantage, so again, I'll not complain about the change.