[johnfin]

I am using a UCS uncoupler track and was wondering , do you need to manually pull the train apart when pressing the button? If so that is lame. When you have alot of cars there would be too much force on the coupler to open and push the cars away.

 

[Big Ed]

I am using a UCS uncoupler track and was wondering , do you need to manually pull the train apart when pressing the button? If so that is lame. When you have alot of cars there would be too much force on the coupler to open and push the cars away.

Do you have the UCS or the #6019?

I ride over the spot and hit the button and the cars disconnect?
The rest keeps going.

 

[Reckers]

It sounds as if john is describing the act of disconnecting while at a standstill---dropping a string of cars after backing into a siding, for example.

 

[johnfin]

uncoupler

Mine uses the power of the track for the electro magnet so you cant run over it to disconnect(hence needs lots of voltsge). Separate power is the only way I know to do that and since the coil is connected to the tracks that would be hard to do. I found that the magnet has to be aligned with the coupler too for it to work.

 

[Big Ed]

It sounds as if john is describing the act of disconnecting while at a standstill---dropping a string of cars after backing into a siding, for example.

Look at my round house and you see the 6019's? One on each side.
I back them in and when I pull out I hit the button and it disconnects?

Maybe I am missing something in his question?

 

[T-Man]

The way I understand it the thumb unlocks when you press the button. The engine does the moving. It only relocks when cars press together.

 

[Reckers]

Got it: great looking layout, by the way!

Since I don't run Lionel, I don't have the real answer about your couplings. However, it occurs to me that, by swapping the uncoupler-track with the straight track to it's 10 o'clock on the same line, you could do a moving uncouple and drop the rolling stock before reaching the turntable. That circumvents the need for the coupler to push the train backwards.

 

[Big Ed]

Mine uses the power of the track for the electro magnet so you cant run over it to disconnect(hence needs lots of voltsge). Separate power is the only way I know to do that and since the coil is connected to the tracks that would be hard to do. I found that the magnet has to be aligned with the coupler too for it to work.

I posted the last one and didn't see this.

My sidings are all set up with separate power switches. But they still get their power from the track.

When I back the train into the siding as I am pulling out I hit and hold the button as the train pulls back onto the round table's bridge, when the car gets over the magnet it disconnects.

What are you using yours for? For sidings?

 

[Big Ed]

Got it: great looking layout, by the way!

Since I don't run Lionel, I don't have the real answer about your couplings. However, it occurs to me that, by swapping the uncoupler-track with the straight track to it's 10 o'clock on the same line, you could do a moving uncouple and drop the rolling stock before reaching the turntable. That circumvents the need for the coupler to push the train backwards.

Little by little the layout is changing. That's an older picture.


However, it occurs to me that, by swapping the uncoupler-track with the straight track to it's 10 o'clock on the same line, you could do a moving uncouple and drop the rolling stock before reaching the turntable. That circumvents the need for the coupler to push the train backwards.[/QUOTE]
HUH??

 

[johnfin]

uncoupler

my UCS uncoupler only works with full throttle, pulling away from it would loose the distance to the magnet. Only way I can see you do that is by running a separate power supply the electro magnet.

 

[servoguy]

The O-27 UCS tracks have the wires from the controller soldered to the rails and coil. Turn the track section upside down and find the wire that goes to the center rail. Unsolder this wire from the center rail and wire it to a fixed voltage tap on your transformer. The instructions at http://www.thortrains.net/manualx.htm show you how to do it for an O-31 UCS, and the circuits are the same so you should be able to figure it out from the diagrams for the O-31 UCS.

Bruce Baker

 

[johnfin]

Old stuff

Thats fine and dandy if I were using a transformer from the 30's, ie the directions are from that vintage. I am using a modern transformer, 2 lug variable. I need to know to connect aux power to the O UCS.

 

[servoguy]

If you have a transformer that has only two terminals, you don't have a fixed voltage available. Get a bigger transformer or another transformer for the UCS track. You could use an old transformer for the UCS track and keep your modern transformer.

To use a vintage transformer with your UCS track, connect one terminal of the vintage transformer to the outer rail, and the other to the hot wire going to the UCS. Adjust the voltage of the transformer until the UCS works the way you want it to.

Bruce Baker

 

[T-Man]

The O-27 UCS tracks have the wires from the controller soldered to the rails and coil. Turn the track section upside down and find the wire that goes to the center rail. Unsolder this wire from the center rail and wire it to a fixed voltage tap on your transformer. The instructions at http://www.thortrains.net/manualx.htm show you how to do it for an O-31 UCS, and the circuits are the same so you should be able to figure it out from the diagrams for the O-31 UCS.

Bruce Baker

Here's a picture to boot. The red shows the center rail connection points.

This is from the milk car thread.

 

[Reckers]

Little by little the layout is changing. That's an older picture.


However, it occurs to me that, by swapping the uncoupler-track with the straight track to it's 10 o'clock on the same line, you could do a moving uncouple and drop the rolling stock before reaching the turntable. That circumvents the need for the coupler to push the train backwards.

HUH??[/QUOTE]

Ed,

Start with the assumption I don't know what I'm talking about---I don't run Lionel. However, he earlier described the coupler having to shove the train backward to allow the coupler to disconnect. That can only happen if you are sitting still.
His uncoupler is immediately before the turntable. That suggested he wanted to stop, disconnect, roll just the engine onto the turntable, and rotate to get it out of line with the rest of the train and presumably, bring out another engine.
My suggestion was to move his disconnect track back from the turntable by one track segment. That would allow him to disconnect while still slowly approaching the turntable: coupler would be able to open easily instead of trying to shove the train backward, if that was the problem.
Again, I'm probably way off base, but that was an easy solution to what I thought he was describing.

 

[Big Ed]

HUH??

Ed,

Start with the assumption I don't know what I'm talking about---I don't run Lionel. However, he earlier described the coupler having to shove the train backward to allow the coupler to disconnect. That can only happen if you are sitting still.
His uncoupler is immediately before the turntable. That suggested he wanted to stop, disconnect, roll just the engine onto the turntable, and rotate to get it out of line with the rest of the train and presumably, bring out another engine.
My suggestion was to move his disconnect track back from the turntable by one track segment. That would allow him to disconnect while still slowly approaching the turntable: coupler would be able to open easily instead of trying to shove the train backward, if that was the problem.
Again, I'm probably way off base, but that was an easy solution to what I thought he was describing.[/QUOTE]

If you are pushing the car into the siding it won't uncouple because your PUSHING the car and you will be not unhooking as you are pushing the coupler, in order to make it work you have to be PULLING the car over it to work.
The huh was for "to it's 10 o'clock on the same line", <=huh? 10 o'clock?

 

[Reckers]

Oh! I understand, now. Think of the center of the pic---the turntable---as the center of the clock. The decoupler is at the 10 o'clock position in relation to the turntable; the straight track I was describing was 10 o'clock of the decoupler: "to it's 10 o'clock on the same line". Elementary, my dear Watson!

 

[tjcruiser]

As Einstein might tout ... "Time is relative, my dear Reckers ... time is relative!"

 

[Reckers]

Speaking of Einstien and relativity...he's the only person I'm aware of who was married to both his first and second cousins...at the same time. Now, THAT is relativity!

 

[Big Ed]

Oh! I understand, now. Think of the center of the pic---the turntable---as the center of the clock. The decoupler is at the 10 o'clock position in relation to the turntable; the straight track I was describing was 10 o'clock of the decoupler: "to it's 10 o'clock on the same line". Elementary, my dear Watson!

As Sherlock Holmes would say,
Well DR Watson,.... I have to say the reason the ten o'clock was confusing is if you look close my turntable it has 24 positions.



Just like the clocks I have around my house .
Heres one of them.

So therefore the 10:00 position is down on the lower right at where the switch comes in.

Your position indicated would be the 22:00 position.
Thats what confused me

Elementary, my dear Watson!

Your welcome Mr Watson.:laugh: