jharrison,
I think the less than enthusiastic response is due to a ten year old thread resurection. When I see a response to a long dead thread, I usually don’t bother to read it. Your ideas may see more interest if you start a new thread and post some pictures.
Bamboo sticks is close but,Wouldn’t want to risk using them with todays finely detail cars especially at $30-50.00 a pop and that’s one reason I still use in between the rail magnets-zero risk of accidental damage.
toothpicks or a permanent magnet I prefer the later
At least one “beefed up” under the track electromagnet article is in the April 2002 issue of MR: “Add muscle to Kadee’s electromagnet,” by Robin Parsons Ertl. I think there have been others, but perhaps as part of other articles or columns such as Clinic or Workshop.
I for one do not mind seeing old posts revived if it makes the thread a more complete discussion of a single topic.
Dave Nelson
Hi Dave:
That’s the article I was referring to. Thanks for finding it. I’ll edit my post again.
Dave
http://rapidotrains.com/on-off-remote-coupler/
I saw this at the last NMRA convention train show and it worked very well. It can be installed after the track is in and only needs low power to turn the disc with the magnets. I think it would be easy to build one and maybe just turn it manually. With all the “super magnets” available now it seems to me that you could use more powerful magnets and mount it a little farther below the track (here I go again souping up an existing uncoupler). Then instead of a hole saw, a Forstner bit could be used from below, stopping the cut about 1/8 to 5/16 inch below the ties. Using the hole saw as shown in the video under existing ties scares me.
Actually, I have operating uncoupler levers on all of my Z scale, c.1900’s 28’ long narrow gauge freight cars! [(-D][(-D]
Jim
Yeah, it’s so easy to reach some of those spots on the layout and try to keep from knocking into some detail you’ve worked on for hours AND THEN, put you full-sized hand into a scale scene and tell me how much you have sacrificed to make it “proto type”.
I devised a mechanically operated permanent magnet uncoupler. The magnet drops away when not in use; no unscheduled uncouplings. When you want to uncouple, you use a lever on the control board to lift the magnet in it’s slot. In can be invisible since it’s all consealed under the ties. It works great for delayed uncoupling.
I have 16 on my layout. I do all uncoupling with these, extremely reliable. I can fill you in on the details if you like. It’s inexpensive too. Dan
Edited in: I just realized this is a 12 year old thread. Still, if anyone’s interested…
I wuld be interested in how you built your mechanically operated ramps.
Ron High
Ron: It will have to wait a spell. All my how-to photos got lost when Photobucket dumped. And I have a bunch of automotive work to do here of late. But I’ll post as soon as I can get to it. Dan
I installed the Kadee under-track electromagnetic uncouplers in two spots on the newer part of my layout. They do work, even with delayed uncoupling, but they are tricky because the magnets will also attract metal wheelsets and will shift the position of single cars.
They also require a very hefty power supply. I had to buy a special supply just for these uncouplers.
I built my layout with the intent of being able to use either permanent or electromagnet uncouplers for all my uncoupling, but over the last few years I’ve decided there’s nothing wrong with bamboo skewers, and I use them almost exclusively now.
Ron, I posted a how to thread under the “Layouts and layout building” forum. Dan