Kadee Uncoupling System
How Kadee® Couplers Work
When the Kadee® Company was formed it was with the idea of providing "the best of what was most needed" ...a reliable, realistic, automatic coupler. It was no coincidence that the name Kadee® became synonymous with the finest automatic couplers! Since 1947 Kadee® has remained a leader within the hobby, always improving the quality of our products. The earliest version, the "K" series knuckle coupler was the first to combine a realistic looking coupler with a "non-lockout" feature; thus the coupler was never "locked" in a closed position, but was designed to allow another coupler to mate with it at all times. A major achievement! Simply nudge cars together and the cars are coupled.Although a big stride forward, the "K" still required physical contact with an uncoupling device, between the rails, to uncouple. This was quite conventional for its day but not the most satisfactory arrangement. The next logical step was to eliminate the physical contact with uncoupling ramps.The introduction of Magne-Matic® Uncoupling by Kadee® was a major breakthrough utilizing magnetic force to activate the coupler. With our "MK" series, the letter "M" was added to indicate a "K" style coupler operated magnetically. Hard on the heels of this important breakthrough, Kadee® introduced modifications providing Delayed Magnetic Uncoupling®. Now it was possible tospot cars at any desired location on any track beyond a magnetic uncoupler. 1. Stop with the couplers over an uncoupler and back up slightly with the couplers still over the uncoupler, allowing slack to occur between couplers.2. Pull forward bringing coupler off the uncoupler. Couplers will snap to the delayed position. 3. Back up, pushing the car(s) to the desired location. Do not permit slack to develop between couplers. 4. Pull forward, leaving the car(s) where desired. Couplers will automatically return to normal coupling position |
