Kadee HO Uncoupling Magnet

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

I have a need for a short magnet. Can the Kadee magnets be cut in half some how and not be effected? Never tried it before. Hack saw?

2

Kadee suggests a way to shorten uncouplers on a sheet packaged with their #322 uncouplers. Unfortunately I cannot find this sheet on their website and this forum does not support direct posting of images or scans. You might be able to get a herd copy of the insert sheet by contacting Kadee via their web site.
Kadee recommends scoring the uncoupler with a silicon carbide scribe and breaking the uncoupler with pliers or a vise. Although I have not tried it I believe scoring with a Dremel cutoff disk might work as well. The uncoupler material is a very brittle ceramic so be prepared to lose a few in the process.
I wouldn’t advise a hack saw due to the material characteristics.

Charlie in Northern Colorado

3

I just bought some of these uncouplers and it came with that instruction sheet but darned if I can find that sheet now. Charlie, if you have the photo of the sheet and sent it to me I could post it.

-Matt

4

Found it.

-Matt

5

Hello All,

I found the “Shortening Uncouplers” document in a #312 package.

Here it is verbatim:

"Sometimes it is desirable to alter the length of ceramic uncouplers. The length is up to you. remembering that the shorter an uncoupler the harder it is to spot cars accurately over it. Generally, shortening them about 25% will not affect performance.
The first item you will need is a silicone carbide scribe, available at most hardware stores. Lay a metal straight edge evenly across the coupler at the point you wish to shorten. Scribe across the uncoupler with the scribe. Make many passes, scribing evenly up to 1/64" deep. Place the end to be removed in a vice or jaws of pliers. Close vise or jaws just enough to support, not squeeze the uncoupler at the scribe line. Apply finger pressure to the scribed area until it snaps apart, Fig. 1. After shortening, shape the new end with a green (silicone carbide) stone so that it is the same shape as the other end."

Here is a scan of the document.

Hope this helps.

6

Thank you all. I know they are brittle but I’ll try it.

LIRRMAN

7

The #308 “Under The Ties” uncoupler is pretty easy to shorten, and it still works pretty well when cut in half.

-Kevin