Bowser hopper couplers issue

[Phoenix]

While running a 20 car coal drag to check my newly ballasted main I was having random uncoupling issues. Suspecting the new ballast, I went over everything and found the track was fine. Looking closer at the uncoupling cars I noticed they were all Bowser cars and that the couplers were sagging on the problem cars. Pulling them from the train I could see the coupler pockets were disassembling themselves leading to the coupler sagging and the air hose catching rail in turnouts. These are NEW Bowser cars so I'm going to have to go through all of them and check the pockets and coupler height.

Just posting in case anyone else is having this problem.

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Believe I found the problem..... The Bowser couplers are held together with a square plastic plate that snaps through the coupler and knuckle. If this car is coupled to another brand of car (Like Micro-T) and there is a derailment where the other car falls to the side, the twisting motion on the Bowser coupler can cause it to snap apart. It went back together rather easy but it doesn't take much twisting or downforce to work it loose.

 

[D&J RailRoad]

I always put a little bit of CA glue on the pocket covers. As the couplers tend to last 30 years or so with an occasional spring letting loose, CA glue is the best choice. For the rare drop to the floor that kills the coupler, ya prolly have to do more repairs anyway, so the coupler box can be cut back open.
For the springs, I put a little touch of the CA at each end of the spring to keep it in place. I have no idea how they suddenly just jump off the little points on their own.

 

[Phoenix]

I always put a little bit of CA glue on the pocket covers. As the couplers tend to last 30 years or so with an occasional spring letting loose, CA glue is the best choice. For the rare drop to the floor that kills the coupler, ya prolly have to do more repairs anyway, so the coupler box can be cut back open.
For the springs, I put a little touch of the CA at each end of the spring to keep it in place. I have no idea how they suddenly just jump off the little points on their own.

I thought about doing that so I'll see. I cause half the derailments myself putting a car on the track and knocking the one behind it off . The ramp works much better when I can find it....!

 

[Phoenix]

Update....! I wrote to Bowser about the issue and just received an answer back today. They just asked for my address and nothing else so I assume they may be sending me something to remedy the issue. I'll let you know...!

 

[Phoenix]

Update....! I wrote to Bowser about the issue and just received an answer back today. They just asked for my address and nothing else so I assume they may be sending me something to remedy the issue. I'll let you know...!

I received three sets of new trucks (without couplers) along with three sets of body mount couplers from Bowser last week. I haven't installed them yet but it was nice that they replied...! The original cars had truck mounts.