I have Kadee #5 couplers are on all cars and locomotives. I do not use magnets to uncouple but skewers, or a pencil or a plastic uncoupling tool. I have the gauge and adjusting tool. I cannot seem to find the correct way to properly adjust the trip pin. I bend it to get it up out of the way and am successful most of the time.
I have read the PDF on how to use the tool but must be doing something wrong. Sometimes the bottom of the pins curve still is a problem. But the trip pin is starting to look like a curly fry.
I don't want to cut off the trip pin even though I do not use them. I think that removing them would decrease the value. Plus all the handling to cut them off could do more damage to the car.
Bob
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Hmmmmm. I presume that this is the tool you have: http://www.kadee.com/htmbord/page237.htm. It would seem that the pictures should give you a good idea of how to do it.
I do have a question. Are you making sure that the coupler knuckle itself is at the right height before bending the pin? If the coupler is mounted too low, then the actuating wire will rest on the little ledge of the gauge and shove the coupler upward so that it appears to be in alignment. Then when you bend the wire out of the way to remove that interference, you end up with a knuckle that is too low. That results in changing the knuckle elevation, and then you have to rebend the wire in the opposite direction.
I generally find that if the coupler is at the correct elevation, most of the time I don't have to adjust the wire.
I will admit that it takes a little bit of practice with the tool to determine the proper amount of squeezing force to apply. Too little and nothing moves, and too much gets you the curly fry.
Over time I simply clipped them. It won't devalue the car at all.
Springfield PA
Hamltnblue Over time I simply clipped them. It won't devalue the car at all.
You are probably right. It is not like they are hard to replace.
If I have one that becomes a problem I simply cut the pin off.
Dr. Frankendiesel aka Scott Running BearSpace Mouse for president!15 year veteran fire fighterCollector of Apple //e'sRunning Bear EnterprisesHistory Channel Club life member.beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam
If you're getting some that look like a curly fry but the bottom of the loop is too low, you are probably placing the trip pin pliers too far down the hose when bending. Try little closer to the knuckle.
-Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
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rrinker If you're getting some that look like a curly fry but the bottom of the loop is too low, you are probably placing the trip pin pliers too far down the hose when bending. Try little closer to the knuckle. -Randy
Thinking about it, you may very well be right. I will give your suggestion a try.