hello, i bought one of those magnematice uncouplering sections, if thats even a word? lol, and i find that only the magnematic cars work with this, not even my engine, which really urkes me, i have a combination of the atlas couplers and magnematicz, does anyone know why atlasz dont uncouple over them, or is this thing a money maker just for magnematic, if so, does anyone have any other ideas for uncoupling their carz, repeatoz were so much easyer, but looked just plain dorkey!
you don’t say what scale you are modeling in but this should be the same for ho or n. if your cars have knuckle couplers you have to be sure that they have the metal trip pin and that it is not out of adjustment (too high). from what you describe you have a rail section with a flat magnet inserted between the rails. who is the manufacturer of this section? what brand of couplers are you using? kadee, accumate, mchenry, or micro trains(n) ? i have ho and n equipment and i don’t use the magnets to uncouple. for ho i use a bamboo skewer that i by at the supper market that are about 10" long and come in packages of about 50. for n i use a rix pix. this way i can uncouple anywhere.
rix pix? I did a net search and could not find such a thing. Could you provide a little additional info about what these are and where to get them? I sure would like a good way to uncouple my N scale cars.
If the name is Magne-matic, they are made by Kadee. I have HO and use both the above and below tie kinds on my layout.
- They must be installed exactly as the directions read.
- Also, as already mentioned, the coupler “metal” trip pin must be at the correct height.
- I have found out that it is not a good idea to install them anywhere except where your cars will be straight.
- As I have problems with a car uncoupling, I change out the coupler with a Kadee.
Now the bad news. With all this you still may encounter some problems, but a gentle nudge usually takes care of it. I still like using them. [:)]
you might want to switch all your couplers over to kadee or mchenry couplers for them to work…the coupler has to be made of a metal that the magnets can separate the coupler knuckles…I use the mchenry delay magnetic uncouplers with kadee #5 couplers and they work great as long as the “air hose pin” is adjusted to the right height…Chuck[:D]
i did not read the original posters screen name and i see by it he is probably in n scale. the rix pix is a plastic rod with a small triangle at one end. by inserting the triangle end between the couplers and giving a gentle twist the knuckles will be forced open and the cars will uncouple. i bought mine at a hobby shop. you get two of them for $1.99. i have been putting on at each area where switching or uncoupling will be done so i don.t have to carry it around while operating. i have only seen them for n scale. they also make a magnetic uncoupler that is shaped like the letter h with two magnets attached. you lower it between the cars stradling the couplers to uncouple.