What happened to the MTL slinky coupler survey?

[Paradise275]

Joe, a while back there was a survey, I think sponsored by you, as to what people wanted; either automatic uncoupling or taking out the slinky from MTL couplers.

Has there been any development along those lines?

Rick

[mark.hinds]

Never heard of this survey, but FWIW I would be devastated if MT further modified their couplers to eliminate automatic uncoupling.  Despite all the MT coupler clones recently, the originals are the only ones which actually work for automatic uncoupling. 

On a related topic, I would be interested in knowing whether MT fixed the issue with their initial RDA coupler modification, which made automatic uncoupling less reliable.  This was due to the thickening of the coupler tips, which tended to catch when the 2 cars were separated over an uncoupling magnet.  (The users work-around is to remove plastic as in the image below).  I brought this to their attention, but I think it got lost in the shuffle.

Mark H. 

[ednadolski]

FWIW while I am no fan of the slinky, I think that if a quick/easy fix were possible it would already have been done. Re-engineering the entire coupler hardly seems practical, especially in a compatible way.

Ed

[JoeD]

I've been at this for 15 years and it seems any modification of the original design, and the thing doesn't work.  I guess the elves that helped Keith are retired from the business.  I will take a look at the example shown above and see if that makes any difference.    As for slinky, it is what it is and is a result of the design.  The whole system sort of walks a knifes edge, a hair one way or the other and the whole thing sort of locks up.  I have a few new ideas I hope to work on later this summer.

Joe

[daniel_leavitt2000]

I kinda thought the couplers  were made from unicorn tears. We have seen plenty of different knuckle designs (accumate, McHenry, whatever craziness Kato is cooking up this week), but nothing categorically "better" than MTL's design.

There are a few things I would like to see. Now that I'm body mounting couplers on hundreds of cars already equipped with MTL trucks, I would love to see since sort of 1015 or equivalent box to put the guts of the truck mounted couplers in. Even with  skinny FVM wheels, I am still running into issues where the truck mounted box is just too big to be body mounted. Buying full 1015 kits just seems so much of a waste.

And a Z scale knuckle drop in to a 1015 box would be heaven on earth, provided it has the same reverse draft angle as the newer n scale versions.

Have you guys ever thought about a fine scale track line? Code 40 is wide open.

[peteski]

Daniel, the auto-correct feature on your not-so-schmart-phone is not doing you any favors. Too bad that you can't turn the darn thing off. 

I make misteaks too, but I'm to blame (not some dumb app).

"buddy mounting"?  I'm not sure I want to see that. 
"full 1015 kites"?  I didn't realize that couplers could fly! 

DISCLAIMER:  Just in case there is any doubt, this post is meant as humorous - not nitpicking or snarky.

[Cajonpassfan]

Oh, I thought he had a buddy mounting his couplers....I could go for that. Anyone? 
Otto

[daniel_leavitt2000]

Awesome. I think I should give this place up.

[cjm413]

Now that I'm body mounting couplers on hundreds of cars already equipped with MTL trucks, I would love to see since sort of 1015 or equivalent box to put the guts of the truck mounted couplers in.

The 1025 box will accept the guts from the truck mounted couplers.

[daniel_leavitt2000]

But not available separately. I don't want to buy a coupler, just the box.

[Missaberoad]

But not available separately. I don't want to buy a coupler, just the box.

Try contacting Micro-trains either directly or through a dealer. They've always been willing to do special orders like that.

[cjm413]

But not available separately. I don't want to buy a coupler, just the box.

You could buy them directly from MTL.