Kadee magnets and Lionel claw couplers

Kadee magnets are too weak to cause any problem with Lionel couplers.

Thats good news, but not for my wallet!

Thank you for the quick reply and info.

Greg

@Bob posted:

Kadee magnets are too weak to cause any problem with Lionel couplers.

I installed a pair of magnets, (correctly, I think) and they ARE activating Lionel claw couplers!  Pictures included...let me know what I did wrong.

Greg,  I install mine a bit different. You did it by the instructions. Which is fine. Stacking the magnets and placing them on the metal plate. When I converted  my fleet to Kadee’s. I used a skewer to uncouple. I visited a Forum members layout. Cape Cod Northern. He was cutting the metal plate into strips the width of the magnet. Glued one magnet to the strip and the assembly to the top of his Ross track. Works very well. I installed a few using the same method seeing my track was down and fully ballasted. I wasn’t about to dig up ballast and remove ties. I believe you can bring up a video OGR shot of delayed Kadee uncoupling of my layout.

Well I never experienced unwanted uncoupling. But I never owned a lot of Lionel rolling stock or really tested it out. I always thought the original milk cars had a great designed truck and uncoupler. I took one off the shelf. Sure enough it opened every time. Even at speed. MTH and Atlas cars no issue.

At first I thought the double magnets and full plate may give it more magnetic force. I don’t know enough about those things to offer an explanation. I do think the metal plate attached to the magnet plays a role in all of it though.

To convert your Lionel cars. Visit Shapeways. A Forum member offers a few mounts for both Lionel and Atlas rolling stock that takes a lot of work out of converting over.

My passenger cars with Claws are activated by Kadee magnets. doesn't seem to bother freight cars.