Kadee#809 uncoupling magnets. How well do they work?

Did you view the video/videos that laidoffsick told you about (see post down this page)? I know that the Kadee magnets worked great in HO, but I elected not to use any in my yard on the 3RS layout.

 

The "delay feature of ALL Kadees works great. Again see laidoffsick's videos.

(Hot Water's) Laidoffsick's video .... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9u52Y3Dv0M

 

Kadee Delayed Uncoupling sure worked great for me in HO.

 

But, I'm enjoying ElectroCouplers, etc now on my little O switching layout.

 

Good luck.

But, how hard do you have to run into them to get them to latch closed?

They work just as good in O as they do in HO

 

 

I'm pretty new to all this stuff, but ....

 

I think I got it down pretty well, for what it is. No "ramming speed!. LOL.

 

I "tune up" my couplers using the basic stuff I learned on this forum. I swap out problematic trucks .... Lionel, Weaver & Atlas.  I add weight to my non-diecast rolling stock (hoppers). I make them heavier than the standard recommendations.

 

I use diecast hoppers as much as I can. Not only by themselves, but also at the head of a string of cars to be drilled. (I only have a very small layout, so the weight and cost of diecast cars is not really a problem for me.)

 

So, I'm pretty happy switching, especially with the really smooth running Legacy GP7. I was really bummed when Lionel cancelled the Legacy NW2's .... I was hoping that they would be geared even lower.

 

Just my 2 cents.

I believe this is the video that shows switching using the magnets

 

http://youtu.be/RjTfq3XU15o

I have a couple different videos.... installing the magnets, and then switching using the magnets. There is also a.video showing the Kadees coupled up with the claws.

Coupler pin height is important for reliable operation. I can switch my entire layout without ever touching the equipment with my hands or tools.

I "tune up" my couplers using the basic stuff

I purchased some Atlas scale sized electro-couplers and have installed one on a Weaver VO-1000 switcher.  I have found some ways to tune up the unit to work much better with Kadees.  The first mod was to modify the knuckle to a profile closer to the Kadee profile.  Right now, with some modifications it is MUCH better than out of the box.  If I can get them to my criteria, I will post the modifications I used.  As it is now, it can easily  be used in some switching scenarios. 

 

As Hot Water has pointed out, the problem is coupling.