What’s the difference? And how in the heck can you delay a magnet?
And so I don’t take up another post, where’s the best place to get some metal wheels–33" ribbed Protos? I saw some ant the Greenburg show and they wanted $7.50.
I believe you are refering to delayed uncoupling feature of the kaydee’s. This allowed you to magnetcally uncouple two cars, back away a short distance, then reapproach the uncoupled car and push it further down a yard track or to a drop off spot on a siding and “drop” the car or string there without “recoupling” to that car. Can be useful when switching an industrial area as long as the cars don’t wobble or uneven track work cause the couplers to “recouple”. Bill
There’s an animation on the Kadee website that show show it all works.
The non-delayed magnets are narrower. They pull the couplers apart just enough to disengage the knuckles. Good for dropping cars “right there”. The delayed magnets are wider, they pullt he couplers far enough apart so that the projection of the knuckles (the 'thumb") can engage inthe face of the opposing coupler. This allows you to pu***he car further along the track and back away without recoupling. The springs recenter the couplers when you pull away, and the next impact will couple up.
Best price on Proto2K wheelsets in MB Klein, www.modeltrainstuff.com They WERE $3.99 until a recent price increase to a whopping $4.50. $7.50 isn;t horrible - beats themorons on ebay paying $9.99 + $4 shipping for a pack. Be thankful for idiots on ebay, they help me pay for my hobby.
–Randy
I use the delayed magnets - very effective as you can place them at the start of a siding then propel cars to where you want them. The only snag is it becomes even more crucial that your couplers self-centre properly, as if they don’t you’ll have to employ the “giant hand from the sky” technique. Couplers with plastic centring springs often don’t work well with delayed uncoupling (E Z Mate for example) either, though with properly set-up Kadees it’s a really useful operational trick.
Oh come on!! It keeps the residents of your layout “in line” to see the giant hand of GOD come down from the sky once in a while. I think our society could use a little more of that.[:D]
I don’t mind the skewer method, but I can’t reach my “yard” such that it is and work the turnouts at the same time. These might be just the ticket.
I use the delayed magnets because some of my sidings have more than 1 industry on them. This saves having to buy a magnet for each location. Also I find you get more reliable uncoupling with the bigger magnets.
Tom
Kadee does have electromagnet uncouplers.
Delay allows you to pu***he car to its location and back away uncoupled.
With DCC theres been scattered talk about DCC uncoupling, that may be fun having it right on the engine but on cars thats going to be expensive, why kadee’s system works great.
Magnetic uncoupling - Electromagnet or Permanent, drop’s the cars at the spot where the magnet is.
‘Delayed’ un coupling (a KD exclusive) allows uncoupling a car at one spot and pushing (and dropping) the car at another - within limitations. That’s why the #5 flat spring design has two unequal sides and different angles on the coupler tail, something true ‘centering spring’s’ don’t do - with any reliably.
KD 5’s and 40 series use the flat springs.
Delayed uncoupling (along with the coupler design) is no longer a KayDee exclusive. I use the McHenry couplers and the delay feature all over my layout.
Tom
I’ve noticed that many modellers put some sort of marker, like a light pole or a telephone pole, adjacent to the track to mark the position of the magnet. That lets you see the magnet’s location when there is a train above it.
Chip
I’am re-wheeling all rolling stock with these wheels,and $7.50 is what I pay a set,Have got to get more to day.there fine.My LHS keeps them in stock.
JIM
[^]I have found that there is an art to this,an use the in track ramps myself,and have for 25 years,they work fine for me!![8D]
JIM
[^][:D]I do this so I can see from the control pannel,It works for me.
JIM