I also tried to scavenge on of the numerous regular coupler-spring I have. But to no avail. The design is far too different to obtain a correct elasticity.

Anyhow, I could give a look at the MT couplers. But I’m not sure I can find that easily here. And now that I have a semi-permanent solution, the need isn’t so urgent anymore.

So, thanks to you, my train can now run with two head-cars! I just need to reopen this problematic car. The head-lights are not working anymore. I guess the disassembling wrecked somehow the connection of the leads. Something must be out of reach somewhere.

Fisrt, I wanted the knuckle couplers to install on my 781系 but I got it wrong and ordered instead the scharfenbergs. But it might be a good thing. I have now two MA sets equiped with Tomix’s TN couplers. One got the brand new scharfenberg and the other one came in with the old knuckle couplers (I got it on Yahoo Auctions). And man! You can see the difference. The gap between the carriage is much more reduced with the new equipment. Or it’s because of the scharfenber make for a smaller link. I don’t really now. To be sure I would need to compare the new knuckle couplers to my scharfenbergs.

Taking apart the train, unscrewing the trucks and taking the rapido couplers was quite easy… even if I broke the second pantographs (the first one was missing a piece when I open the bpx) when my hand reaped.

I also had two “explosion”. One coupler was quite easy to reassemble the other one is for the moment impossible to put back together. It was the first one I isntalled and when I put the shell back I discovered the head of the couplers wasn’t moving. So I took the shell and the coupler off. Try to move the head. Still not working. So I try to open it and it explodes in my hand.

I try many time to put it back together and succeeded only two times but, each time, the head wouldn’t move. I’ve decided to let go and to order more couplers. Now my 4 cars set run in 3 cars set consist, without one pilot car. That’s quite disturbing.

That,s interesting. My MA Skyliner also cals for knuckle coulers, even though EMUs are usually fitted with the Scharfenbergs. I wondered about that too: is this is a quirk of the prototype or of MA?

Post pics of your Rapit! And the couplers too!

I wish I knew more about these before ordering them however. The MicroAce site lists the F0004′s as the right TN’s for this model, but they are more like Janney/AAR type couplers versus the Scharfenberger’s (which I think would have looked better for this train). There are also strange to uncouple as well. The illustration indicates that you should turn the cars to be separated at a sharp angle ‘upwards’ to disconnect. This has worked a couple of times, however, it also results in exploding couplers as well! I may not have installed all of them correctly in the first place though, particularly after reading this!