Cars not uncoupling at crest of the hump

videobruce Jul 25, 2022

  1. John Moore

    John Moore TrainBoard Supporter

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    I see no reason a rabbit whisker would not work. I would place the whisker downgrade as far as practical. If that does not slow the car enough then go one more whisker a little ways upgrade.
     
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  2. MK

    MK TrainBoard Member

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    Get a roll of really light weight fishing line. You can make a TON of retarders!
     
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  3. Shortround

    Shortround TrainBoard Member

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    All I need do is go outside.
     
  4. John Moore

    John Moore TrainBoard Supporter

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    That line may be too flexible unlike a cat whisker or a bristle.
     
  5. videobruce

    videobruce TrainBoard Member

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    Something other than an animals whiskers?
     
  6. Doug Gosha

    Doug Gosha TrainBoard Member

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    A cat's paw is much more effective at stopping an N scale car.

    :D

    Doug
     
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  7. mtntrainman

    mtntrainman TrainBoard Supporter

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    ^^^THIS ^^^
    :LOL::LOL::LOL::LOL::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO:
     
  8. videobruce

    videobruce TrainBoard Member

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    No cats, even when I had one, he wasn't allowed near the layout, besides it's too high to jump.
     
  9. videobruce

    videobruce TrainBoard Member

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    I moved the magnet up again another 1/2 to 3/4 inch just past the crest and it improved uncoupling. Up from around 25% uncoupling to around 75% of the cars.
    With the MT magnet 50x7x3mm (measured) cars now separate at the very end of the magnet meaning to move it up further will require a longer or just more short magnets.
     

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  10. acptulsa

    acptulsa TrainBoard Member

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    The idea is to open the coupler while there's slack, meaning while the car's still being pushed uphill. Then hold it open until gravity takes the car.

    If the peak of the hump is fairly flat, yes, that would require a long magnet.
     
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  11. videobruce

    videobruce TrainBoard Member

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    I received my 1st set (of 2 sizes) of Neo magnets I ordered from China (a week earlier than the earliest estimate no less).
    I tried these Neo magnets and they pull the couplers together no matter which way I placed the magnets. Instead of uncoupling they do the opposite. I tried taking some pics but it doesn't show up as well as I would of liked.
    Compare those w/ the 3rd attachment. MT's magnet works, these super magnets do not. I even stacked two and other then it was stronger (probably because of height) the 'trip pin' still gets pulled inward, not outward on both cars. (Those magnets were not secured down. When the trip pin came close enough the magnet lifted up to the pin.)
     

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  12. mtntrainman

    mtntrainman TrainBoard Supporter

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    Bruce...place those neo magnets 'outside' of the rails. JMO
     
  13. Sumner

    Sumner TrainBoard Member

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    I haven't used the following method yet but will try it later...



    Sumner
     
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  14. mtntrainman

    mtntrainman TrainBoard Supporter

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    Sumner...excellent video on how to use 'rare earth' magnets for automatic uncoupling. Note that the 'small' magnets are placed on the outside of the rails. (y)(y)
     
    Last edited: Aug 10, 2022
  15. videobruce

    videobruce TrainBoard Member

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    But that is for 'flat' switching which doesn't apply here. 'Humps' don't work that way.

    BTW, the 'poles' for these magnets are the top and bottom, not the sides or ends.
     
  16. acptulsa

    acptulsa TrainBoard Member

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    You still have to spread the couplers, not push their knuckles closed. In that way the process is exactly the same. And that's the only thing we use magnets for.
     
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  17. videobruce

    videobruce TrainBoard Member

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    When the cars do separate they do it just like the prototype, gravity takes over afterwards. You are familiar with just how a 'hump' works? As long as both couplers move outward (in model RR operation), all is well. Roughly 75% of the cars do that, it's the 25% that don't for some unknown reason and it doesn't seem to be a Atlas vs MT issue.


    As a test, I temp placed two stacked magnets against the rail to see what happens. Nothing, the coupler never moved either way and that was with 2 magnets!
     

    Attached Files:

    Last edited: Aug 11, 2022
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  18. Dennis461

    Dennis461 New Member

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    Neo magnets need a space.
    20191108_102901.jpg
     
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  19. videobruce

    videobruce TrainBoard Member

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    That's N scale?? In the upper right, is that a magnet?
    It seemed everyone else suggests outside the rails. :unsure:

    I'm going to order another pair of MT magnets.
     
  20. videobruce

    videobruce TrainBoard Member

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    I received the MT magnet set (2) and discovered that the N & S poles are centered around the sides of the magnets which makes sense based on the direction the 'trip pin' is facing.
    On these small silver bar magnets the poles are on the top & bottom making them semi useless unless one positions them standing up om their side which isn't practical in my situation. The cost difference in nil.

    The solution was to cut one in half and extend the length which seems to solve most of the problems. It needed a longer reach past the crest which was the last problem. I still have a few exceptions which I'm dealing with the specific cars.
     
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