Merry Christmas all
Right now I use a small screw driver for my uncoupling tool, what do you use?
Clem
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I use the same thing. You can also use the plastic "shovel type" coffee stirrers you used to find at McDonalds and other places. I had a cache of them somewhere. By the way, they're also great for the tabs on 3-rail couplers.
I use an old TV Tuner tool that is plastic on one end and metal on the other. I got a small LED flashlight for Christmas and plan on mounting it to the tuner tool so I can see down between the cars.
Just about any small, thin, long, flat blade screwdriver will do the trick.
Although I have a number of different manual uncoupling tools, the latest item I have tried with excellent success, are sharpened wood chopsticks.
I have been using the 5 finger switcher to uncouple my kadees for a while now. I had a small screw driver but it didnt seem to work well. Where are you guys inserting the screw driver to make them uncouple?
Originally Posted by Jdevleerjr:
I have been using the 5 finger switcher to uncouple my kadees for a while now. I had a small screw driver but it didnt seem to work well. Where are you guys inserting the screw driver to make them uncouple?
You slip it between the clasped knuckles and give it a clockwise twist. The cars move apart slightly. The blade has to be small enough to get in-between which is why a tapered flat point works best.
While I like how you can push-spot a car using the magnetic in-track uncouplers, as a practical matter, freight cars are spotted while coupled and a switchman manually uncouples them, so I have no problem with manual uncoupling. The switchman was also responsible for making sure the knuckles lined up and were properly opened when picking up a car, again a manual process I have no problem with doing in a model context.
Also Kadee offers the plastic #241 Dual Tool" Manual Uncoupling Tool & built-in Spring Pic (HOn3 to O-Scale) listing for $2.10 which works okay.
I stuck a couple of them on a recent coupler order just for grins and they work about the same as a screwdriver.
The spring pic on the other end may be of value to some of you. But, I'm happy with my method of managing coupler springs with offset tweezers.
A sharpened pencil
12" Bamboo skewer
quote:The spring pic on the other end may be of value to some of you.
When I was doing HO with my older son, I found the spring pic to be very helpful for installing replacement springs.
