Thanks for the video. I use a small bamboo skewer with the end whittled to a point to uncouple. I cut away the bottom metal loop under the coupler and do not use magnets. So I can uncouple anywhere I want putting the tip of the skewer into the couplers and very lightly twisting. After a little practice it is easy. A human walks there to uncouple and I guess I become that human. I can uncouple anywhere, any time, with no non-prototypical magnets between the rails. But the layout has to be the right height and I guess some folks will find it tricky. Otherwise, these Dapol couplers are a very welcomed addition to N scale British even with using the magnets!
Thanks Terry, yes, I think that the Dapol couplers are an improvement over the "rapido" type couplers even if you don't want magnetic uncoupling. I do like the novelty of hands-free uncoupling but I must admit it sometimes doesn't work. You can set it up perfectly but then you buy a new loco (e.g. the Dapol B1 where the NEM socket moves down as you go over the magnet) and you find the magnet height needs adjusting to get it working reliably again. All part of the fun I suppose!
Simons Shed The problem I find with Rapido couplers is that the little spring ends up being worn out far too quickly. All it takes to disrupt them is a hard tap with the locomotive or another rolling stock. If you are going to end up replacing Rapido couplers, you might as well replace them with a BETTER coupler.
i have been thinking of trying out some electro magnets under the layout and see if they have enough power to uncouple trains plus the bonus is when you dont need to uncouple you can just turn the magnets off. one day i will test this theory out
davidpds30 Thanks, yes, I've heard some people have used 1/2 magnets with success, its a great coupling system, just takes a bit of tweaking to get the magnet the right height.
Hi Simon, quick question on a similar, but not identical, topic, if that’s OK. Have you had any experience of unwanted uncoupling between Dapol locos and Farish rolling stock? If so, any suggestions about how to overcome it?
Simmon, just watched you video, theses look like the OO (HO in USA) couples, the better couples fon n scale are made by Micro Trains, much more reliable and if you follow MT's recommendations of adding a small spring to one of the axles on each car they are great, but here in the USA we weight our cars to NMRA standards to improve performance, hope this helps, thanks for sharing....😄
Hi Simon. Another good video. I hope to be starting an N gauge layout soon, so have been finding your video's very informative. These couplers/un-couplers remind me of the Uncoupling Ramp by Hornby (R617) that I used to have on my OO layout as a child. Anyway, thankis for posting the video's. Craig.
+craigjo1972 The problem with the uncoupling ramp was you couldn't move the rolling stock to where you wished after uncoupling without them coupling up again. These magnetic knuckle couplers of whatever brand work best. In America it is almost impossible to buy new rolling stock or locomotives in N scale without knuckle couplers now, the awful Rapido couplers are of the past.
craigjo1972 Many of us can't reach across our layouts to uncouple or scoot rolling stock. The main reason why magnetic knuckle couplers are so popular. In America the modelers forced the hand of American manufacturers of N scale trains. We refused to buy their products until they switched to knuckle couplers.
Have also had problems with push shunting and re-coupling which is irritating on a shunt ing puzzle layout . An y ideas for solving this problem .? I have considered going back to tension locks and using a simple manual shunting pole and plate device !
I have never had any problems using magnetic knuckle couplers. Kadee invented them more than fifty years ago, and the Americans converted to using them at first by modelers before the manufacturers followed suit with their own make. Kadee couplers can be found in N, HO/OO, O, and G scales.
To me they are very similar to "Kadee" couplings, which I have been using for over 15 years here in Belgium ... they are very effective ... I actaully think the "Kadee" ones are cheaper that the "Dapol" ones ...
+Matthew Snowden The shanks come in different sizes, as well the couplers in height either above, equal, or below the shanks. Kadee makes these magnetic knuckle couplers with NEM sockets, as well as the old traditional gear boxes. Kadee also makes washers for wedging purposes as these knuckle couplers work best at the same height. Kadee used to have a patent, but it seems all of the N scale manufacturers have switched to something similar with their own make.
Hi. Just found your video. Are you still using this system as it has been a while now? I'm looking at some sort of hands free coupling/uncoupling so I can add more realism to my shunting. Thx (great vids by the way)
MrSocket77 Yes, still using these, I find them (even forgetting about the magnetic uncoupling) better than the standard 'rapido' couplers, as they couple easier and seem to stay coupled more reliably.
N gauge Kadee couplers are made by Micro trains. I think they were brothers and they split the company up, one took the n gauge part, the other brother took the HO side of things. Osborne's do them I think. Cheers Rich
Exactly what I need for a layout I am starting to build. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for the video. I use a small bamboo skewer with the end whittled to a point to uncouple. I cut away the bottom metal loop under the coupler and do not use magnets. So I can uncouple anywhere I want putting the tip of the skewer into the couplers and very lightly twisting. After a little practice it is easy. A human walks there to uncouple and I guess I become that human. I can uncouple anywhere, any time, with no non-prototypical magnets between the rails. But the layout has to be the right height and I guess some folks will find it tricky. Otherwise, these Dapol couplers are a very welcomed addition to N scale British even with using the magnets!
Thanks Terry, yes, I think that the Dapol couplers are an improvement over the "rapido" type couplers even if you don't want magnetic uncoupling. I do like the novelty of hands-free uncoupling but I must admit it sometimes doesn't work. You can set it up perfectly but then you buy a new loco (e.g. the Dapol B1 where the NEM socket moves down as you go over the magnet) and you find the magnet height needs adjusting to get it working reliably again. All part of the fun I suppose!
Simons Shed The problem I find with Rapido couplers is that the little spring ends up being worn out far too quickly. All it takes to disrupt them is a hard tap with the locomotive or another rolling stock. If you are going to end up replacing Rapido couplers, you might as well replace them with a BETTER coupler.
i have been thinking of trying out some electro magnets under the layout and see if they have enough power to uncouple trains plus the bonus is when you dont need to uncouple you can just turn the magnets off. one day i will test this theory out
Great video very clear, can the magnets be made smaller (shorter i.e.cut in half) ?
davidpds30 Thanks, yes, I've heard some people have used 1/2 magnets with success, its a great coupling system, just takes a bit of tweaking to get the magnet the right height.
have you tried using micro-trains couplers?
Hi Simon, quick question on a similar, but not identical, topic, if that’s OK. Have you had any experience of unwanted uncoupling between Dapol locos and Farish rolling stock? If so, any suggestions about how to overcome it?
Simmon, just watched you video, theses look like the OO (HO in USA) couples, the better couples fon n scale are made by Micro Trains, much more reliable and if you follow MT's recommendations of adding a small spring to one of the axles on each car they are great, but here in the USA we weight our cars to NMRA standards to improve performance, hope this helps, thanks for sharing....😄
Cool, thanks for the tip, I'll have a search for the Micro Trains couplers.
Hi Simon. Another good video. I hope to be starting an N gauge layout soon, so have been finding your video's very informative. These couplers/un-couplers remind me of the Uncoupling Ramp by Hornby (R617) that I used to have on my OO layout as a child. Anyway, thankis for posting the video's. Craig.
+craigjo1972 The problem with the uncoupling ramp was you couldn't move the rolling stock to where you wished after uncoupling without them coupling up again. These magnetic knuckle couplers of whatever brand work best. In America it is almost impossible to buy new rolling stock or locomotives in N scale without knuckle couplers now, the awful Rapido couplers are of the past.
I just pushed the wagons with my fingers.
craigjo1972 Many of us can't reach across our layouts to uncouple or scoot rolling stock. The main reason why magnetic knuckle couplers are so popular. In America the modelers forced the hand of American manufacturers of N scale trains. We refused to buy their products until they switched to knuckle couplers.
Have also had problems with push shunting and re-coupling which is irritating on a shunt ing puzzle layout . An y ideas for solving this problem .? I have considered going back to tension locks and using a simple manual shunting pole and plate device !
I have never had any problems using magnetic knuckle couplers. Kadee invented them more than fifty years ago, and the Americans converted to using them at first by modelers before the manufacturers followed suit with their own make. Kadee couplers can be found in N, HO/OO, O, and G scales.
Thanks from this😎I’ve bee looking at uncoupling devices for a while and will definitely try these out 👍
Do you just stop with the coupling over the magnet ? Or is there some sort of wiring to electrically magnetise it?
Mason Jordan You just stop over the magnet, its not wired in.
Just a Kadee copy. I used them over 20 years ago in Canada.
Richard Myers a
Richard Myers aye
I use a 12cm x 0.60mm metal crochet needle made by Pony that works every time, as long as you do not have the DT's. Highly recommended.
To me they are very similar to "Kadee" couplings, which I have been using for over 15 years here in Belgium ... they are very effective ... I actaully think the "Kadee" ones are cheaper that the "Dapol" ones ...
Guy de Valk which Kaydee product fits the NEM 355 socket?
I do really like this, but the magnets are a little too much on show. wonder if they could be modified to be hidden better
The magnetic field is NOT affected by ballast or even the lumber of the base board of your layout. They are easily hidden...
Ive jst bought this system, bt it doesnt fit to any of my Peco stock :(
+Matthew Snowden The shanks come in different sizes, as well the couplers in height either above, equal, or below the shanks. Kadee makes these magnetic knuckle couplers with NEM sockets, as well as the old traditional gear boxes. Kadee also makes washers for wedging purposes as these knuckle couplers work best at the same height. Kadee used to have a patent, but it seems all of the N scale manufacturers have switched to something similar with their own make.
Hi. Just found your video. Are you still using this system as it has been a while now? I'm looking at some sort of hands free coupling/uncoupling so I can add more realism to my shunting. Thx (great vids by the way)
MrSocket77 Yes, still using these, I find them (even forgetting about the magnetic uncoupling) better than the standard 'rapido' couplers, as they couple easier and seem to stay coupled more reliably.
Thanks, good luck with your layout!
i know I'm pretty off topic but does anyone know a good place to watch newly released movies online ?
@Carl Oakley i would suggest FlixZone. You can find it on google :)
I assume these are 'OO' gauge? Is such an enormous magnet really necessay? Do they work with DC and DCC?
These are N scale. They will work on both DC and DCC. 👍
we use them in the U.S.A. they do not work on curves at all. you want to uncouple on curves use electro-magnets they work very well.
Mine work on 9" curves with no probs. Video of them working here.. th-cam.com/video/lR9Xi2hoU8w/w-d-xo.html
Nice good coupling system :-D
If you used Kadee couplers instead of those knockoffs, you wouldn't have ANY problems, ROFL
+MySowGyna if you can find me some N gauge kadee couplers I'll use them. 👀
N gauge Kadee couplers are made by Micro trains. I think they were brothers and they split the company up, one took the n gauge part, the other brother took the HO side of things. Osborne's do them I think.
Cheers Rich