Just curious here as I've had success getting 'sticky' ball bearings to move by tapping the knuckle with the magnet. It does sound like yours are a bit more then just sticky... have you tried

Would not the ultrasonic tank eat the CA out of the coupler? I've had the occasional sticky coupler but it was usually remedied by a light tap to free the ball, then making sure it was worked through

Rob, Yes, I have tapped and tapped, even to the point of being afraid to tap any harder, for fear of damaging the coupler. I know, it seems hard to believe they could get that stuck, but they

Nathan, I have had the same thought. That's why I am going to try 2 or 3 couplers, before committing to mass "Ultrasonicing" if there is such a word. I have a Dr appointment this morning, but will

Hello to all who have responded. Yesterday evening, I tried the Ultrasonic Cleaner. About a 50% success rate, but the trouble is, the ACC does get loosened. I had put the couplers in a very fine

Mike: I have the same problem with heat in the basement paying the electric bill to heat it. I have heat ducts all I have to do is open them. Added onto that,I have cracks in the floor that in Spring

Al, ( and everyone else), I have no proof that the temp in the work shop/Train Room is causing this, but it could be. This afternoon, I dug out a box of HO Std Gage Sergent Couplers, I had assembled,

White coating is some sort of oxide, depending on what metal the couplers are made of that would very well explain your dilemma. I see this on automotive parts made from aluminum.

Mike, did you paint your couplers before assembly, or assemble them without painting? Mike Conder

Stuck couplers after periods of storage isn't un-prototypical :-) Actually I have had the same problem with newly assembled couplers; assemble them, break them in (all works fine), come back a

Hello all, It's been a couple of months since the stuck couplers (ball problem) came up so I shot Frank an eMail for an update and this is what he had to say. He has had some success with the SEC

Mike, some were painted with acrylic craft paint, some were not painted at all. I believe the painting was done after assembly. The painting was done with very light, thin coats. They were brush

Tim, sounds like you have exactly the same situation that I have. Glad to know I'm not the only one. My main worry is, will they continue to become stuck, or will they stop, once the oxide is

Interesting ... I've been using the new Sharon couplers (I am a TOC narrow gauger) and the website now recommends using a solvent-based spray (Krylon? I forget exactly). Wonder if that would help

Mike, Frank replied to an email I sent him, in which he said that Rustoleum might prevent the corrosion. I have not tried this, as all the couplers I have are installed or at least, painted and in a

The Other Mike, Mike,since this is an investment casting product problem,should I assume the corrosion problem can occur even if the couplers come preassembled as mine do? In Frank's letter,he

Let's not get the two issues confused. The investment cast couplers had a problem with the casting shape. Mike Van Hove (think I got the right one) has been reporting an oxidation issue.

Always fun. It is the Rustoleum that I was trying to remember, I have a can at home. It really looks good, BTW. I am curious about the corrosion cause, though. Do you live in a humid part of the

Mike First off, it’s pronounced Mini-soooda. My train room is in a heated/air conditioned basement. So, not muchtemperature variation from summer to winter, maybe 10 degrees variation. I’ve

The "strong" magnet I have is from Sears. It's a Craftsman Brand telescoping Gizmo to pick up metal objects with. It's on a telescoping wand about 2 feet long. The magnet is amazingly strong. I