Since the addition of copious details including brake hoses to most manufacturers rolling stock I have a heck of time uncoupling the side tabs with my fingers, and just as hard to get to the thumb tack underside coupler - am I doing something wrong or is there a trick to activate the side tab with your fingers?
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I did some more experiments on scale couplers with brake hoses...I cannot activate the lever on scale Atlas rolling stock without picking up the car with one hand and applying considerable force with fingers of the other hand. The brake hoses make the task impossible - unless someone has figured a way to do so. Removing the hoses is an obvious solution. MTH scale cars are easier to do. Will try Lionel cars later.
Well Paul, we could take a page out HO guy's playbook. They carry an uncoupling stick to open Kadees. A common device was a cut down McDonalds coffee stirring stick. Such a tool could get under the car to pull down the thumbtack or activate the side tab. I have fat fingers and have some trouble with uncoupling too.
These fat fingers ain't uncoupling squat without the help of a stick of some kind. 3r couplers or Kadee.
What 3r I have left I use the Kadee stick
It seems activating the thumbtack is the surest way to go, yet even that is hard. I like the idea of a stick with coffee stirrer attached, but then you have to carry the stick around.
Paul Kallus posted:It seems activating the thumbtack is the surest way to go, yet even that is hard. I like the idea of a stick with coffee stirrer attached, but then you have to carry the stick around.
I use chop-sticks that have been sharpened in a pencil sharpener, and place them strategically all over the layout. Really NOT a big deal.
Paul Kallus posted:It seems activating the thumbtack is the surest way to go, yet even that is hard. I like the idea of a stick with coffee stirrer attached, but then you have to carry the stick around.
Well, that's what shirt pockets are for. Plan B, have a bunch of them, and keep one near each switching area. I've seen guys keep them in their car card pockets, mounted on the fascia of the layout.
I'm not fond of the fact the new Atlas coupler tabs are on the opposite side of the couplers than Lionel and MTH. If the cars are oriented in a certain manner, both tabs are on the far side of the reach which can be a PITA. As a side note, I put a piece of tape on the drop tab on the bottom of Atlas' new coupler arms. I uncoupled one of my brand new coil cars using the tab and drop tab shorted to the center rail. The breaker tripped like it always does but not before the fault current passed through the spring ruining it. The coupler would no longer stay shut. Atlas basically said 'Tough luck pal'. Had to buy a new set of trucks.
Which trucks and couplers are the problem?
Atlas
Lionel
MTH
Andrew
The new Atlas ones have the uncoupling tab on the opposite side. They also have the shorting problem as well. I'm not sure when they changed as I stopped purchasing new Atlas for a few years after trucks and couplers were crumbling from zinc rot. I wasn't upset so much with the rot as I was with their 'tough luck' replies to my emails from their so called great customer service! I forget the guys name, but his initials are BS!
I remove the (annoying) brake hoses altogether. Snap out or cut off flush and neatly with wire cutters. Calling attention to an already oversize coupler with this "detail", then making it fairly impossible to use the uncoupling tab seems to me to be a folly.
I have a nice stack of these things, waiting for some paint and glue as part of my service facility ground clutter.
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