Atlas coupler trip pins no longer magnetic

[bbussey]

I discovered a little while ago that the MTL-clone coupler trip pins on Atlas ex-BLMA rolling stock releases are not magnetic.  Today, I discovered that AccuMate coupler trip pins on current Atlas releases, motive power and rolling stock, also are no longer magnetic.  So an upgrade to MTL couplers are necessary for magnetic hands-free uncoupling.

[peteski]

Wow!
It is amazing how clueless the Chinese manufacturers are have become, (and how little product inspection is conducted by the American producers to catch such a dumb-headed changes in the product.)   

We all might as well go to McDonalds and ask for a Quater Pounder with extra onions. 

[C855B]

...how little product inspection is conducted by the American producers...

I'm going to be so brazen as to suggest that the portion of the N scale market that honestly, actually operates using magnetic uncoupling is < 1%.

[tehachapifan]

Did anyone ever get anything but an MT coupler to actually uncouple over a magnet?

[Jimbo]

I'm going to be so brazen as to suggest that the portion of the N scale market that honestly, actually operates using magnetic uncoupling is < 1%.

Doesn’t matter.  The manufacturers should still deliver the product that they advertise, whether the feature is used or not.

[Doug G.]

What the hell are they doing, casting them out of Zamak?  Plastic ones painted copper/black? I agree with Jimbo. I don't care what the percentage of modelers is who take advantage of magnetic uncoupling, the manufacturers need to make them work.

Do they think modelers actually just want them for looks? Silly. I like magnetic uncoupling. Anytime I can avoid trying to stick a pointed stick (sorry M.Python) down in there, particularly with my reduced visual acuity, the better.

Doug

[Doug G.]

Did anyone ever get anything but an MT coupler to actually uncouple over a magnet?

I haven't. MTs are the only ones that reliably uncouple. It's like the designers of the other brands just ignored that feature.

Doug

[NtheBasement]

I'm a bit confused by this thread.  Trip pins are not magnetic.  @bbussey, are you saying that magnets will not attract the pins?  And @peteski, how does China come into the picture?

[peteski]

I'm a bit confused by this thread.  Trip pins are not magnetic.  @bbussey, are you saying that magnets will not attract the pins?  And @peteski, how does China come into the picture?

I guess "ferromagnetic" metal would be more accurate description?  Colloquially it is called "magnetic" (as in being attracted by a magnet).

Why China? Because (unlike MTL couplers) that is where all the other types are manufactured, and from what I have seen, Chinese manufacturers take a lot of liberties to stray from what was specified by the model companies which contracted them.  I can only suspect that's what took place in this instance.

It would be interesting what those trip pins are made of. White metal is likely not strong enough, but the copper alloys are usually more expensive than steel. Maybe they got a special deal on some brass wire and went with it. 

[C855B]

I don't get all bent out of shape with Atlas' trip pins. Literally. Every time I go to adjust one, it pulls out, not to be recovered. If magnetic uncoupling is desired, like with cars typically assigned to an industry I might switch, if the pins are broken or have fallen off, they get replaced with MTL, some easier than others.

I will admit I've spent nearly zero time making sure magnetic uncoupling works. I use a pick. :shoulder-shrug:

[Lackawannae8]

yep I recently noticed that they got super easy to cut off when I snipped them with my dikes. didnt even think about testing them as they are worthless to me.

[bbussey]

Did anyone ever get anything but an MT coupler to actually uncouple over a magnet?

Generally like-couplers operate efficiently, i.e., MTL-to-MTL or AccuMate-to-AccuMate.  Most of the MTL clones work with MTL without too much fuss - BLMA, Bluford, BLI, Rapido, Scale-Trains.  I switch out all of others to MTL, but I expect the clones to work.

Rapido and BLI trip pins still work, that much I know.  I need to check the other clones.

[Rivet Miscounter]

I honestly don't think I ever knew that anything other than MTL was even supposed to work magnetically in N.  Maybe I did and just forgot....dunno.

I have only ever used the delayed uncoupling feature in HO, and in limited testing with MTL couplers in N.   It's cool, and I'm not necessarily opposed to using it.  For yard switching in HO, it was really fun to be able to actually kick the cars.   But it has never been a priority for anything I was doing in N, and I swear I just assumed that Accumates et al were designed for picks only.   (which is normally my standard)

I have been pondering using in it in Z, but haven't tested it yet.   My assumption is that I would have to use MTL couplers.   Just checked and Full Throttle Bowser Buckler couplers state they are not able to be magnetically uncoupled.  They do appear to have cut trip pins so maybe it works but not reliably so they did that to avoid support calls?   I don't recall disccusions about that feature during the LEZ pocket experiments.   AZL couplers don't have trip pins, and early versions didn't even couple automatically.  I have more of those than I like to admit that need to be changed out.

[Freight Train]

Huh ?
    I used to take a high powered magnet and run across the top of my carpet to find missing trip pins. If their not made of of metal with magnetic properties that sure won't work anymore. Sounds like the Chinese are more involved with making spy balloons than caring about the functionality of trip pins on model trains.😁

[randgust]

Well, I'm part of the 1% that uses them magnetically, and I remove and replace ANYTHING that isn't MT that is involved in actual operations.   

Bachmann, Atlas, pretty much junk.  As I don't uncouple passenger trains except the power, Kato's are left on.  I don't uncouple my piggybacks so some of the BLI and Trainworx cars get a pass.

I really think the trip pins get a bad rap.  I have long and heavy trains, and until I did the Jim Fitzgerald trick of cutting the "V" heads (which is essentially what MT now calls "Reverse Draft Angle", the trip pins would snag as increased stress force would push one knuckle slightly up, the other slightly down, and the down one would snag.   Fix the knuckle, fix the problem.   

If you're cutting them off because you get snagging, fix the actual problem.   If you just don't like the look and want to put in brake hoses instead, good for you.  I hope you don't knock them off with your pick!

Oh, and I did one custom build with the magnetic brake hoses that hold together.   Wow, interesting, what a pain to install.   I can't imagine doing that to a fleet of equipment.

And guess what, a little rebending of the pins on the Z couplers make them work just fine with regular N, delay and everything, and work with the other bigger couplers, so knuckle size is no longer the issue either if you can fit one on.  I put them on pilots as standard practice.   I have not had issues with pull aparts or breakage either.  I really wish MT would come up with a shorter box version though.