When I bought a bunch of parts from a friend, included in the box was I think an old uncoupling tool. I’II try to describe it. It’s white in color (made of plastic) and is in the shape of an “h” with the bottom of each leg of the “h” containing a magnet facing each other. Am I right, if so how does it work? or if I’m wrong what is it for and how does it work?
Thanx.
That’s a Rix uncoupling tool for HO. I have two of them. You insert it between the cars with magnetic knuckle couplers and it opens the knuckle to allow uncoupling. It works OK but it sometimes attracts the metal weights in the car floors or metal ladders which leads to derailments.
How would this lead to a derailment? Unless you’re uncoupling on the fly or quite heavy handed w/ that tool. The same can happen w/ a stuck bamboo skewer.
It’s a Rix uncoupler. http://www.rixproducts.com/6280014.htm
I use them and am quite happy with them. The trick is the slack must be in, just like the real thing.
Nick
As I said I have two of them. I used them for quite a while. I don’t like them and do use bamboo skewers to uncouple in HO. What I meant was that the magnets attract the car to it, either the weight in the floor or ladders or any metal details. When removing the uncoupler after uncoupling , the magnet can and does sometimes lifts the car with it. I have no trouble with the skewers.
Ditto to that. Forget the Rix tool. The wood skewer is the way to go, it is flawless.
Incidentally, there is a similar thread titled Uncoupling, or something like that having the same discussion as we are here.