Atlas vs Microtrains couplers: is Atlas as good?

[videobruce]

I understand the Atlas version of the NMRA coupler is not as good or dependable as the Microtrain version. Is this true?
I'm especially interested due to the use of a hump yard.

[TrinityJayOne]

I find Atlas' "accumate" couplers to be fair, but no, they aren't on par with MicroTrains' offerings. I'm perfectly happy with keeping them on my rolling stock, it's just the McHenry couplers that give me grief.

[videobruce]

I have come across a number of others that say these "accumate" are terrible. Pins falling out, hard to couple, uncouple on the fly by themselves.
I just picked up a bunch (used) and I'm sorry I got them. I assumed the coupler was similar to MT.

I did notice, the Atlas roll much better.

[WCWBrassHat]

I have had trouble with the pins of the accumate couplers on the Atlas cars falling out. I have not been able to replace it and end up pulling the truck off and replacing it with an MT truck & coupler. The newer Atlas cars seem to last longer and hold up better, maybe it was just a quality issue that has been corrected.

Glenn

[videobruce]

I wonder if this issue of the pins falling out have been corrected? If so, when, how could one tell?

[Ron McF]

I like to use Atlas Accumates to couple locos together, as the locos don't seem to hunt or separate as much as they do with MTL couplers.

Accumates are easy to uncouple with skewers, and I like the fact that they don't exhibit the slinky effect. Since I don't use magnetic uncouplers, I remove the pins before they fall out.


Regards,
Ron

[Burlington Bob]

By Ron McF;

Accumates are easy to uncouple with skewers, and I like the fact that they don't exhibit the slinky effect.

The Micro Trains may couple easier but the jerky movement or "slinky effect" of the Micro Trains couplers is almost a deal breaker for me. Back in the old days, Kadee, (as they were known then) sold small springs to be put on one or two axles to retard the jerky movement but it also added a greater load to be pulled for each car that had a spring installed on it.

So far, I'm happy with the Accumates and have at least considered the idea of replacing my MT couplers with Accumates. Time and more experience will be the deciding factor.

[videobruce]

Kadee, (as they were known then) sold small springs to be put on one or two axles to retard the jerky movement but it also added a greater load to be pulled for each car that had a spring installed on it.

I do remember those, but didn't see a reason for them. I never really had any issue with this "slinky" effect since my layout was small and grades were excessive due to the three level design.

[RW&C]

I've got a few cars with Accumates. They look better IMO but I can't get them to uncouple with the hard drive magnets I'm using as uncouplers. The fault may very well be mine for being too cheap to buy proper uncouplers... but the Micro Trains units work fine. The slinky effect is a little annoying though.

[Kisatchie]

After watching trains run with both Accumates and Micro-Trains couplers, I decided to go with Micro-Trains.

The Accumates may not have the slinky effect, but the distance between cars is unacceptable. Atlas cut down the distance slightly when they modified the Accumates coupler box, but the distances between my cars are from 6 to 7 scale feet.

On the other hand, the distance between Micro-Trains cars is less than 4 scale feet.