Hi Guys and Gals,
I use Kadee between the track delayed uncoupling magnets for my HO layout sidings where I can't reach in with a skewer to uncouple. Sometimes, even though I've set the magnet properly with the glueing jig made by Kadee, the couplers on some engines will just not be attracted to the magnet and will remain in the straight, coupling direction. I've often sprayed some dry graphite lubricating powder inside the coupler box to make the coupler move more freely. I also check to be sure the metal pin under the coupler (the so-called "glad hand") is at the right height, per the Kadee coupler height gauge. Sometimes, even after these procedures, I still can't get the coupler to move sideways and uncouple.
Just tonite, I tried something new. I grabbed the uncoupling pin of the Kadee coupler with a needle-nosed pliers and bent it slightly in the outside direction. Holy cow! It worked.
I just wondered if anyone else has found that when all else fails, just move that uncoupling pin a little to the outside....sort of to give it a little "extra" help to get it moving to the outside when placed over the magnet. If you've done this, does it work for the long term?
Actually, I hope my experience helps resolve some problems for some of you folks out there.
Mondo
Yup! That pin must left or right of the magnet's centerline for it to be pulled to one side or the other. If it is dead center, both sides of the magnet pull equally and it goes nowhere.
I've been using magnetic uncoupling since magnetic horn-hook couplers first came out. A loose uncoupling pin isn't unusual. Twist it to the correct position and make sure it stays there by putting a tiny drop of super glue on the top end of the uncoupling pin wire where it comes out of the knuckle. (Don't glue the knuckle to the stationary part of the coupler.)