As many of you know I have been building a few pieces of rolling stock. I am installing Accucraft couplers on them and they seem a little stiff in opening and closing. Should I lube them with something or will they operate fine once I have them on the track in operations mode? Don’t have a layout yet so cant test them, but they just seem a little hard to open and close.
I have the same issue with them Randy. Graphite seems to help, but still I cant always get the pin to drop. Bruce and Bob use them too soi maybey they have some ideas.
I use graphite powder in mine and they work ok. Occasionally I get a stuck pin, but it works itself out eventually.
Thanks Bob, I thought maybe a little graphite powder would help and they seem to operate better once installed and using the lift bar to operate them.
Mix up some baking soda and vinegar lube in large gallon batches
I’ll mix up some of that to use on you…either you will grow some feathers or loose what little you have and then you’ll be ready for the soup pot! 
You might also try “lock-ease”, it’s a liquid with “colloidal graphite” which means the graphite does not settle to the bottom of the can.
Squirt some in and the liquid drys leaving the graphite behind, works great at carrying the graphite into the mechanism, rather than blowing graphite powder all over the outside.
Dri-slide also works well.
Regards, Greg
Never seen that product Greg - Sounds like it will help for a lot of things, including locks 
I’ll have to look for it.
Greg thanks. Jon it comes in a small bottle in the automotive section at most retailers. I’ve seen it in several stores around here, might pick it up and try it.
Hmm, wonder how it works on coloring smokeboxes? Have to give it a go.
Later,
K
Kevin Strong said:
Hmm, wonder how it works on coloring smokeboxes? Have to give it a go. Later, K
In the door of my LS Shay, after burning all the finish off, I used a soft pencil and just kept going over it. I really like how it came out and it holds up to the heat too.
