Drawbar Couplers on Spectrum Acela Cars

[meschke1989]

The "forked" end of the drawbar fits into a "socket" on the front end of the car and snaps into place.  The forked end on the opposite end of the drawbar fits into the socket on the back end of the adjacent car and snaps into place.  The two cars are now coupled.  How do you uncouple the cars?  I have found that pulling very gently on the drawbar will get the forked end out of the socket.  Is this the right way to uncouple the cars?  I don't see any other way to do it, but I don't want to mess up my cars, either.

Can anyone out there give me some advice?

[jonathan]

Meschke,

You are doing it right.  The couplers are made so you can pull them apart with a gentle force.  If it makes you uncomfortable, there are two tabs on either side of the coupler pockets.  You can squeeze these two tabs with a very fine needle nose pliers to release the couplers.

You aren't doing any damage by pulling them apart.  Although I suppose they could weaken over time, if you are uncoupling them all the time.

Regards,

Jonathan