Delayed VS Undelayed. How do they work, which one works better, or does one work better than the other? Any insight is appreciated.
If you ae talking Kadee go to their web site and look under product info. www.kadee.com
They serve different functions. The undelayed is for straight uncoupling. The delayed seperates the couplers, but allows you to push the car to the dropoff location.
I don’t have the foggiest how that works though. I figure a magnet is a magnet. Maybe, one of these bright engineering types could enlighten us.
It’s easy. The non-delayed magnets are skinnier, and don’t pull the couplers as far over as the delayed magnets do. By pulling the couplers further apart, it allows them to miss each other and not engage…ie, “delay” them.
Paul A. Cutler III
Weather Or No Go New Haven
I learn something every day here.
Thanks Paul. I was looking at the delayed type, because I like the idea of being ablt to uncouple the car say, at a main turnout, and push it through to it’s destination. Do they work well? I don’t want to get them if they only work sporatically. Thanks again.
Yes, they work well … if you do your part. Make sure the couplers on all of your cars are perfect in all respects. Use Kadee’s coupler adjustment tool. And, I would stick with Kadee products, from my experience.
Test, and retest, the placement of all magnets, too. With much trial and error, I’ve even got some to work on a curve.
Mine work everytime.
Greg
Expierience has taught me not to put delayed uncouplers on the mainline track. If the engine hesitates even a little, the slack in the couplers can cause unwanted uncoupling which is very irritating. For mainline uncoupling, I use KDs manual uncoupling tool which is nothing more than a plastic stick with a pointed end. You stick it between the couplers, give it a little twist, and the cars uncouple. It takes a little practice but after a while, you will be able to do it reliably without derailing the cars. The added advantage with this method is you can uncouple anywhere you want, not just where the uncouplers are. I haven’t tried them but I’ve heard bamboo skewers work just as well.
I do use magnetic uncouplers in my yards and industrial spurs.
As others have pointed out, the only difference in the Kadee line is the width of the uncouplers. The couplers are one and the same.
In operation, you choose whether or not to use the delayed option over the wider uncoupler. If you don’t need delayed action, you simply pull away. The only problem is that the car you left sitting over a pemanent magnet will still have its coupler in the delayed position, and would normally be pushed by, rather than be coupled to anything approaching it (assumes approaching coupler also moves to the delayed position). It is important to know that the automatic coupling feature generally does not work over a permanent magnet of either kind. Another argument for avoiding the typical long Kadee permanent magnets in fixed positions.
Electromagnets solve many problems, but installation is relatively painful, as is a hinged or sliding mechanism to pull a permanent magnet out of position. The rare earth magnet solution is very easy to install and has a very short length, but requires very precise spotting for uncoupling. Make your choices and pick your poison!
Not only do your couplers/uncouplers have to be spot on for reliable delayed uncoupling, but your motive power must run very smoothly at low speed, your track must be level enough to not induce separation while pushing, and your cars need to fairly consistent in their rolling ability. Super free-rolling is not desirable in this situation. Note that if the cars separate even momentarily during the pushing operation the couplers move back to their normal position, and the cars recouple using the automatic coupling feature. For these reasons, delayed uncoupling is not used as frequently as one would otherwise expect.
Light and free-rolling cars - especially in N and HOn3 - have the opposite problem I call coupler “bounce”. The cars do not automatically couple when pushed together at slow speeds beca
Thanks, yall. You input is much appreciated.