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I am getting close to laying track on my layout, and I was wondering about uncoupling tracks. I have 11 stub sidings -- 4 in a yard, and the rest to serve a station or industry. I am using Ross and Gargraves track, and my intentions are to install electric uncoupling buttons robbed from Atlas uncoupling sections on a straight section of track on each stub. Then I begin to read about folks who have switched to Kadees, which look better, are more prototypical, and have the delay function-- and have installed the 809 Kadee magnets with the backing plate underneath the track-- which looks like something that would be much easier done during the track laying process. Next I read about folks going the Kadee route- and have had some problems with the ferrous wheel and axle sets on the cars centering up on the Kadee magnets, and interfering with the operation of the Kadees. Also if you stop a train or allow the slack to reverse while over the magnets-- they uncouple unexpectedly.

 

My understanding is that for HO -- where the wheel sets may be mostly plastic or some non-ferrous material-- Kadees are better than sliced bread-- but how well do they work in O-gauge?

 

If appearance was not a factor -- do the standard O-gauge couplers function-- coupling and uncoupling--  as well as the Kadees?

 

Very confusing! 

 

Jeffrey

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I use Kadee's as well as their magnets. I ended up cutting the metal plate into strips slightly wider than the magnets. I glue the magnet to the metal strip then to the wooden ties. I wasn't about to rip up ballasted track to install per instructions. Got the idea from Forum member Cape Cod Northern. As far as how they work. Pretty good. The trip pins must be right on the money. I can uncouple and delay couple reliably with about 80 percent of my cars. There are always those that don't seem to work as well. If your persistent I'm sure you can get them all to work properly. The majority are the older 805's. The 3railcouplers are probably more reliable as far as getting the cars uncoupled. Where the Kadee's really shine is making up trains. You can couple one car without moving it.

 A pic of 2 Kadee magnets in the yard. About the same look as the Gargraves. The beauty of the Kadee's is they require no wiring.

 

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"Then I begin to read about folks who have switched to Kadees, which look better, are more prototypical, and have the delay function-- and have installed the 809 Kadee magnets with the backing plate underneath the track-- which looks like something that would be much easier done during the track laying process"

 

  Most folks that use Kadees don't worry about the magnets, they just uncouple where ever they want with a pointy stick or small screwdriver. The only problem is spurs that are too far from the aisle to reach still wil require magnets..DaveB

Originally Posted by Dave_C:

I use Kadee's as well as their magnets. I ended up cutting the metal plate into strips slightly wider than the magnets. I glue the magnet to the metal strip then to the wooden ties. I wasn't about to rip up ballasted track to install per instructions. Got the idea from Forum member Cape Cod Northern. As far as how they work. Pretty good. The trip pins must be right on the money. I can uncouple and delay couple reliably with about 80 percent of my cars. There are always those that don't seem to work as well. If your persistent I'm sure you can get them all to work properly. The majority are the older 805's. The 3railcouplers are probably more reliable as far as getting the cars uncoupled. Where the Kadee's really shine is making up trains. You can couple one car without moving it.

 A pic of 2 Kadee magnets in the yard. About the same look as the Gargraves. The beauty of the Kadee's is they require no wiring.

 

image

Wow! That is a NICE layout!

 

If I understand you correctly-- the standard Lionel couplers uncouple very well-- but you have to "bump" cars together to get them to couple, whereas the Kadees couple together with very little force involved.

 

I am glad to see that it is possible to install Kadee magnets "after the fact"-- so if I wanted to upgrade to Kadees in the future I don't have to tear the track up. Thanks for the info.

Check out my YouTube videos for the Kadee couples and switching. I did a demo on switching 3R cars with Kadees and a 3R electro coupler on the engine. I even show you exactly how to install the "between the track" magnets so they work as intended.

 

3R rail couplers work like Kadees??? not even close

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